Sarah Bernhardt: The Divine and Dazzling Life of the World's First Superstar, written by Catherine Reef, reviewed by Stephanie Wilson

Summary: Sarah Bernhardt was a woman ahead of her time. A star of the stage and silent films, she became a world-wide phenomenon. She traveled extensively including trips to the United States, Canada and South America. She lived an outrageous, unconventional life as a proud single mother at a time when women lived carefully constrained lives. Her son Maurice was her near constant companion. Bernhardt’s relationship with own mother was complicated. As a child, Bernhardt was prone to fits of extreme emotion to the point of making herself physically ill. As an adult, Bernhardt was fired from her first job as an actress at the Comedie-Francaise over a spat with a fellow actress. She was hired at the Gymnase, a job she fled to go to Spain. Her career took off once she returned to Paris. The Comedie-Francaise offered to rehire her but Bernhardt refused their offer. She felt her style of acting was not compatible with their more traditional approach. Bernhardt’s melodramatic roles and her ability to portray genuine emotion won her legions of fans. She was the world's first superstar. Unraveling the truth about Bernhardt's life is difficult. She frequently lied, exaggerated or told tall tales. Bernhardt knew it was part of her appeal. She mastered the art of self-promotion before it became an integral part of an actor's life. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: Sarah Bernhardt is not a name many students will recognize. However, her unconventional life will resonate with modern students. The discussion of Paris’s demimonde is utterly fascinating. Students with an interest in the performing arts, especially theatre will be drawn into the story of Bernhardt’s battle to find her place in the theatre world. Catherine Reef does an excellent job of bringing Bernhardt’s story to life. Sarah Bernhardt: The Divine and Dazzling Life of the World’s First Superstar is loaded with photographs, period drawings and theatre memorabilia. Reef also includes the political and social context to events that occurred during Bernhardt’s life including the Franco-Prussian War and World War I.