For high school theatre lovers, this is a must read biography of Sarah Bernhart, the superstar of the stage on both sides of the Atlantic during the late nineteenth century. She is still considered to be one of the greatest performers of all time. This fast paced biography tells the story of her life (1844-1923) in France, and her explosive rise to immeasurable fame as an actress on the stage. Small of stature, with wild hair, and “too thin” by the norms of beauty at that time, Bernhart did not fit the expectations of what directors and writers expected. But hearing her angelic voice reading for auditions wiped away any doubts. Not only was she known for incredible acting ability, but also for her sculptures and writing in her adult life. She was renowned for her death scenes, and she studied for these roles by visiting hospitals to watch the dying and the dead (there certainly were no HIPAA laws to protect patient privacy in those days). She slept in a coffin and allowed photographs to be taken of her sleeping in it.
Her personal life was absolutely shocking for the time: she had a son at age 20 without benefit of a husband. She had affairs with many of her leading men. When she finally married, it was to a dashing want-to-be actor who was a womanizer and heroine addict. In fact, author Bram Stoker said he used Bernhart’s husband, with his white “near death” complexion and glassy eyes, as a model for his most famous character, Count Dracula.
She kept and traveled with exotic animals, including a cheetah, a collection of chameleons, and even a tiger cub she received as a gift. She was friends with author Victor Hugo (author of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Les Misérables), she visited Thomas Edison at his laboratory in New Jersey, and meet with world famous magician Harry Houdini. She raised funds for French soldiers of WWI and earned the Legion of Honor medal, France’s highest commendation.
When she died at the age of 79, the doctor opened the window of her bedroom and shouted out “Mademe Sarah Bernhardt is dead”. News rapidly spread to her theatre and when the actors heard the news, they walked off the stage and to her home in full costume and makeup. Paris went into three days of mourning, as thousands of Parisians filed past her bed. Thousands of mourners lines the streets on the day of her funeral. She was laid to rest in her own coffin bed.
Sarah Bernhart: The Divine and Dazzling Life of the World’s First Superstar is well researched with extensive source notes, a bibliography, timeline, photo credits, and an index. The books contains over 65 photographs of Bernhart and of events of her era.
