Description
Book Synopsis The great nineteenth-century stage actor Edwin Booth began his long career in 1849 as a young teenager, following in his father''s footsteps. This biography traces his life and career as a tragic actor, including his childhood; his early acting tours of California, Australia and Hawaii; his rise to fame as a touring star; his two marriages; his relationship with his brother John Wilkes Booth; his disastrous management of Booth''s Theatre in New York City; and his death in 1891. The book includes an extensive performance history detailing every known Edwin Booth performance during his more than 30 years on the stage, with reviews and other supplementary materials.
Trade ReviewWork of impressive biographical scholarship and a strongly recommended addition"—
Midwest Book Review"This biography of 19th-century American stage actor Edwin Booth goes beyond Edwin's relationship with his infamous brother John Wilkes Booth to describe the witty yet melancholy Edwin's career on stage and his relationships...contains a wealth of historical photos"—
Reference & Research Book NewsTable of Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Part I: Biography
- One. 1833–1849: "Born to the stage"
- Two. 1849–1852: "A long legged stripling …
- awkward as a young duck"
- Three. 1852–1856: "Full of promise … and Bowery rant"
- Four. Professional and Family Life, 1856–1860
- Five. 1857–1860: Booth, Mary Devlin and Adam Badeau
- Six. America and England, 1860–1862: "At a larger circumference"
- Seven. 1862–1863: "Tell Molly I'm coming"
- Eight. 1863–1865: "If it goes a year, keep it up!"
- Nine. Edwin and John Wilkes Booth: "Life's too short to spend in grieving"
- Ten. 1865–1867: "Something to keep us above the surf"
- Eleven. Mary McVicker: "The best actress we've had for a century"
- Twelve. Booth's Theatre, 1867–1869: "A temple to art"
- Thirteen. Booth's Theatre, 1869–1871: "The currency of good intentions is not bankable money"
- Fourteen. Booth's Theatre, 1871–1883: "So much for high-old-art"
- Fifteen. Family Life, 1870–1880: "My house has been a hospital"
- Sixteen. England, 1880–1881: "The verdict of foreigners"
- Seventeen. 1881–1882: The Death of Mary McVicker
- Eighteen. Europe, 1882–1883: "The most important engagement of my life"
- Nineteen. 1883–1886: Touring and Family Life
- Twenty. The 1886-1887 Season: "It is time to harvest all I can"
- Twenty-One. 1887–1888: Booth and Barrett
- Twenty-Two. "The Booth and Barrett Social Company"
- Twenty-Three. 1888–1889: The Second Booth and Barrett Tour
- Twenty-Four. 1889–1890: Touring with Modjeska
- Twenty-Five. 1890–1893: Illness, Last Tour and Death
- Part II: Performance History
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
