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Bernhardt, Sarah, 1845-1923We have 2 books for this author.
Sarah Bernhardt (October 23, 1844 – March 26, 1923) was a stage actress born in Paris. Often referred to as "the most famous actress in the history of the world," she made her fame on the stages of Europe in the 1870s, and was soon in demand in Europe and the United States. She developed a reputation as a serious dramatic actress, earning the nickname "The Divine Sarah." Early lifeShe was born in Paris as Henrietta Rosine Bernardt, the daughter of Dutch Julie Bernardt and a father of unknown nationality. She was named after her mother, and in fact of Dutch nationality. Most likely, her father was not French. She added the letter h to both her first and last name, and used the name of Edouard Bernardt, her mother's brother, as the name of her father. This was probably to hide the fact that her father was unknown. Her grandfather, Moritz Bernardt, was a notorious Jewish merchant in Amsterdam, Holland. Most likely, her Jewish mother Julie was also born in Amsterdam. To support herself, she combined the career of an actress with that of a courtesan - at the time, the two were considered scandalous to some degree, but courtesans were widely accepted in many social circles, and looked on as equals in cases where they were highly intellectual and when the art of being a courtesan was merely a sideline for another more respectable career. She was sponsored into the Conservatoire de Musique et Déclamation by the Duc de Morny in 1859 for theatrical training. 
 Stage careerHer stage career started in 1862, when she was a student at the Comédie-Française, France's most prestigious theater. However, she was not entirely successful at the conservatory and left to become a courtesan herself by 1865. It was during this time that she acquired her famous coffin which she often slept in in lieu of a bed, claiming it helped her understand her many tragic roles. She made her fame on the stages of Europe in the 1870s, and was soon in demand all over Europe and in the United States in New York. She soon developed a reputation as a serious dramatic actress, earning the title "The Divine Sarah"; arguably, she may have been the most famous actress of the 19th century[citation needed]. She coached many young women in the art of acting, including actress and courtesan Liane de Pougy. Visual arts and recordingsAlthough primarily a stage actress, Bernhardt made several cylinders and discs of famous dialogues from various productions. One of the earliest was a reading from Phèdre by Jean Racine, at Thomas Edison's home on a visit to New York City in the 1880s. Multi-talented, she was involved with the visual arts, acting, painting and sculpting herself, and modeling for Antonio de La Gandara. She also published a series of books and plays. During her time, Bernhardt had a strong influence on grand opera, an influence that continues to this day. Tosca and Salome, for example, contain two of opera's most sensational heroines, both based on plays written for Bernhardt. Social life, marriages and relationshipsShe had an affair with a Belgian nobleman, Charles-Joseph-Eugene-Henri, Prince de Ligne, with whom she had her only child, the writer Maurice Bernhardt, in 1864 (he married a Polish princess, Maria Jablonowska, 1863-1914) (see Jablonowski). Later lovers included several artists, most notably Gustave Doré and Georges Clarin, and actors Mounet-Sully and Lou Tellegen, as well as the famous French writer Victor Hugo. Alphonse Mucha based several of his iconic Art Nouveau works on her. Her friendship with Louise Abbema, a French impressionist painter fourteen years her junior, was so close and passionate that the two women were rumored to be lovers. She later married Greek-born actor Aristides Damala (aka Jacques Damala) in London in 1882, but the marriage, which legally endured until Damala's death in 1889 at age 34, quickly collapsed, largely due to the young actor's dependence on morphine. During the latter years of this marriage she was involved in an affair with the Prince of Wales, who later became Edward VII. [1] 
Silent film careerBernhardt was also one of the pioneer silent movie actresses, debuting as Hamlet in Le Duel d'Hamlet in 1900. (Technically, this was not a silent film, as it had accompanying cylinders with dubbed dialogue.) She went on to star in eight motion pictures and two biographical films in all. The latter included Sarah Bernhardt à Belle-Isle (1912), a film about her daily life at home. Sarah Bernhardt was made a member of France's Legion of Honor in 1914. Later careerIn 1915, ten years after a serious injury, her right leg was amputated, confining her to a wheelchair for several months. Bernhardt supposedly refused a $10,000 offer by a showman to display her amputated leg as a medical curiosity (while P.T. Barnum is usually cited as the one to have made the offer, he had been dead since 1891). Nonetheless, she continued her career, and contrary to belief without the use of a wooden prosthetic limb. She carried out a successful tour of America in 1915, and on returning to France she played in her own productions almost continuously until her death. Her later successes included Daniel (1920), La Gloire (1921), and Régine Armand (1922). Her physical condition confined her practically to immobility on the stage, but the charm of her voice, which had altered little with age, ensured her triumphs. [2] She died in the arms of her son Maurice. She is buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, France. Sarah Bernhardt has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1751 Vine Street. The actress La Berma, a fictional character in Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time, was inspired by Bernhardt. In 1880 Bernhardt allegedly saved the life of Mary Todd Lincoln, widow of President Abraham Lincoln. A ship, l’Amérique, was traveling from Nice to New York when it was hit by an enormous wave that knocked down Mrs. Lincoln and sent her rolling across the deck toward a companionway. As she was about to plunge headfirst down the stairs, Bernhardt managed to grab one of her legs and save her. This story is undoubtably apocryphal. Sarah was a notorious liar and Alexandre Dumas fils (the son of the more famous author) said of the notoriously thin actress, "You know, she's such a liar, she may even be fat!" Books
Selected roles
As Hamlet
Films
Menefee, David W. Sarah Bernhardt in the Theater of Films and Sound Recordings. North Carolina: McFarland, 2003. RecordingsPhèdre (1902) Written by Jean-Baptist Racine Recorded at Pathé An excerpt from the play of the same name, a spine-tingling tirade from Phedre about her steaming, illicit passion for her Greek step-son, Hippolyte. Le Lac (1902) Written by Maurice Bernhardt Recorded at Pathé A poem about the Divine Worker and his creation of a beautiful lake. La Fiancée du Timbalier (1902) Written by Victor Hugo Recorded at Pathé A thrilling lament from a woman to a handsome soldier playing a timpani drum in a parade. Lucie (1902) Written by Alfred de Musset Recorded at Pathé A dreamy poem spoken to a voluptuous woman singing and playing a harpsichord. Le Lac (The Lake) (1903) Written by Maurice Bernhardt Recorded at G and T A later version of the poem about the Divine Worker and the creation of His lake under tropical skies. La Samaritaine (1903) Written by Edmond Rostand Recorded at G and T An excerpt from the play of the same name, about Photine, the woman who met Jesus at the well, and who was told by Him to go forth and love. Les Vieux (The Old) (1903) Written by Rosemonde Géard (Mme. Edmont Rostand) Recorded at G and T A tender poem about two old lovers sitting under a trellis in the twilight years of their lives. Un Évangile (A Gospel) (1903) Written by François Coppée Recorded at G and T A moving tale of Jesus and Saint Peter helping a fisherman's widow and her little baby. Phèdre (1903) Written by Jean-Baptist Racine Recorded at G and T An excerpt from the play of the same name, a later version of the illicit passion between Phedre and Hippolyte. La Mort d'Izéil (The Death of Izéil) (1903) Written by Maurice Bernhardt Recorded at G and T An excerpt from the play of the same name, an ode to the death of Izeil, the girl who died of love. La Rêverie de Théroigne de Méricourt (The Dream of Théroigne de Méricourt) (1903) Written by Paul Ernest Herview Recorded at Zonophone A tirade to revolution, an excerpt from a play, during which Sarah's vocal gymnastics reach unnerving heights. Un Peu de Musique (A Little Music) (1903) Written by Victor Hugo Recorded at Zonophone The tale of a lady and a count riding into the mad mystery of love. L'Aiglon (The Eaglet) (1910) Written by Edmond Rostand Recorded at Edison An excerpt from the play of the same name, with a full cast of unknown actors, and Sarah as Napoleon’s son languishing among dying soldiers at Wagram. Phèdre (1910) Written by Jean-Baptist Racine Recorded at Edison (4-minute long version)featuring Lou-Tellegen The passionate love between Phèdre and Hippolyte. Les Buffons (The Buffoons) (1908) Written by Miguel Zamacois Recorded at Edison An excerpt from the play of the same name, a whimsical story of a zephyr, who falls in love with a beautiful girl spinning wool, and anguishes when she marries a Prince. La Samaritaine (1910) Written by Edmond Rostand Recorded at Edison (4-minute long version) An excerpt from the play of the same name, about the encounter between Jesus and Photine, the woman at the well. L'Étoile dans la Nuit (The Star in the Night) (1918) Written by Émile Guérinon and Henri Cain Recorded at Vocalion A divine affirmation of faith expressed to a brilliant star in the night sky. La Prière pour nos Ennemis (A Prayer for our Enemies) (1918) Written by Louis Payen Recorded at Vocalion An excerpt from Champ d'Honneur, a patriotic speech by Marc, a wounded soldier, who is clutching his flag after a raging battle. References
External links
This biographical information was gathered from the Sarah_Bernhardt page, courtesy of the Wikipedia project. BooksThe Idol of ParisMy Double Life The Memoirs of Sarah Bernhardt |
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