Author: Jo Willett
Genre: Nonfiction, History, Biography
Publisher: Pen and Sword History
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 224
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Sarah Siddons rose from a poor, traveling actor to Britain's greatest tragic actress by overcoming early career failures, becoming a superstar by her 30s, and skillfully managing her image and reputation in the eighteenth century.
Sarah Siddons grew up as a member of a family troupe of travelling actors, always poor and often hungry, resorting to foraging for turnips to eat. But before she was 30 she had become a superstar, her fees greater than any actor - male or female - had previously achieved.
Her rise was not easy. Her London debut, aged just 20, was a disaster and could have condemned her to poverty and anonymity. But the young actress – already a mother of two - rebuilt her career, returning triumphantly to the capital after years of remorseless provincial touring.
She became Britain’s greatest tragic actress, electrifying audiences with her performances. Her shows were sell-outs. Adored by theatre audiences, writers, artists and the royal family alike, Sarah grasped the importance of her image. She made sure that every leading portrait painter captured her likeness, so that engravings could be sold to her adoring public.
In an eighteenth-century world of vicious satire and gossip, she also battled to manage her reputation. Married young, she took constant pains to portray herself as a respectable and happily married woman, even though her marriage did not live up to this ideal.
Sarah’s story is not just about rags to riches; this remarkable woman also redefined the world of theatre and became the first celebrity actress.
My Review: Sarah Siddons has been known as one of England’s most famous tragic actresses during the eighteenth century. Her most famous role was Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Sarah grew up in an impoverished family of actors. As a child, she grew up on the stage. She fell in love with and married a handsome actor named William Siddons. However the marriage would have its problems and would separate decades later. When she became pregnant, she was recruited by the famous actor David Garrick to perform at the distinguished Drury Lane. However, her first season proved disastrous and she was let go. Seven years later, Sarah returned to Drury lane where she triumphed in the role of Isabella in Southern’s Isabella, or the Fatal Marriage. Overnight she became an instant celebrity. This biography shows how Sarah dealt with her celebrity status and the impact she played in the theater world.
I have heard of Sarah Siddons in passing. However, I never thought much about her until I read her biography. This biography shows that Sarah Siddons is a remarkable woman who is worth studying. I found it interesting that Sarah Siddons was the breadwinner in her family. Her husband, William Siddons, did not make it as an actor. Therefore, he became Sarah Siddons manager. I also liked that she worked hard to maintain her image as a wife and a mother. The biography shows that because of this image she helped improve the reputation of female actors. I found it incredibly sad that Sarah and William Siddons’ marriage was unhappy and that they eventually had to separate. I also admired that Sarah Siddons did not let her disastrous first season faze her. During those years, she worked on improving her craft and strengthening it. During that period she learned she was more fit for tragic roles. After she felt that she had improved on her technique, she felt she was ready to take on Drury Lane again, where she became immensely successful. Therefore, Sarah Siddons was a very fascinating and impressive historical figure.
Overall, this was a very detailed biography of Sarah Siddons. I did find the biography to be very dry and repetitive. It was not written in an engaging and easy to read manner. About a third of the book focused on other historical figures rather than Sarah Siddons herself. Nevertheless, I came away from the book knowing the impact in which Sarah Siddons had made upon the history of theatre. I also liked learning about the roles that Sarah Siddons played. I found it sad that most of the roles she played are seldom played any longer. This biography is perfect for those interested in reading actresses during the Regency era! I recommend this for fans of Perdita, Mrs. Jordan’s Profession, and Beloved Emma!
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
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