THE FIRST ACTRESS
BY C.W. GORTNER

This was very interesting to me because although I have always known of Sarah Bernhardt I didn't have a comprehensive understanding of what a true trail blazer she was in the ways she influenced and changed how acting was done. This book was written in the first person and made me feel like I knew Sarah intimately. I never knew what a hard life that she lived and I have grown to love and appreciate Sarah. She was very controversial in her lifetime for always living her life authentically on her own terms. Modern acting today really owes Sarah recognition for her efforts in going against tradition to bringing emotion and the way actors interact towards each other rather than saying their lines towards their audience.

Sarah never knew her father and her date of birth isn't known because the records housing those details have been destroyed in a fire. Her mother's name was Julie and she was very cruel to Sarah. Her mother was a courtesan in France and she wanted to marry off Sarah to a man Julie picked out. Sarah attended a convent and although she was Jewish she converted to catholic religion probably because of the years she spent with the nuns in the convent. In the convent Sarah received a good education although she was versed only in speaking french in her early formative years. Sarah knew she was born to be an actress so she clashed with her mother's plans for her prearranged marriage. She attended France's acting school. After attending her training she had an iron will not to follow in her mother's footsteps to become a courtesan or get married to a man her mother chose for her.

Sarah was close with her maternal Aunt Rosine but she was also a courtesan. Madame G. as she was endearing to be called by Sarah was more of a mother to Sarah as she was kinder and became a life long helper in Sarah's own household. In order to attain her dowry for the much needed money Sarah needed to support herself before she became an actress, she made a deal with her mother to attend the opera and attract a male to pay for Sarah to have a sexual relationship with. In that capacity, to raise the funds needed for Sarah to pay for her own apartment she agreed to have sex with an aristocrat with whom she became pregnant with her only child she named Maurice. Sarah went against everybody's wishes to abort her baby. When she approached the aristocrat who was the father of her unborn child he didn't want to take responsibility and he refused to give Sarah any money to raise the child. They made an agreement to never bring up the subject again. Even though he was rich and could afford to help finance Sarah's much needed financial support.

Her mother Julie had two more daughter's who were also illegitimate. The second daughter was Julie's golden child who followed in Julie and Rosine's footsteps to become a courtesan. Julie's youngest daughter was treated as unwanted and Sarah and Madame G. took care of her and loved her. Sarah started out as a struggling actress that got lesser roles despite her training and talent. She first worked for the Comedie until she was fired because of an altercation with the older and more established actress Nathalie. Sarah then went to a more notorious playhouse where she acted in roles that held little passion for her. She then went back to the more higher regarded theater the Comedie where she became well known for her outstanding roles. I felt badly for Sarah because she was treated with scorn and jealousies from her fellow female actresses. Sarah was a kind person and I was so moved by how her son Maurice was her most beloved relationship and she didn't act at all like her own mother who had rejected Sarah and thought her efforts and deep passion for acting was foolish.

This work of historical fiction was inspired by a more scholarly author who used many non-fiction books to depict a real life fleshed out human being that Sarah Bernhardt embodied. I think he stuck to factual aspects as much as possible. My experience of reading this volume of Sarah's life was to grow to love her just as I suspect C.W. Gortner did. He crafted a narrative that was always sympathetic to Sarah no matter how unconventional her actions were in the world during the time that she lived. She met Oscar Wilde and she called him her poet. He accompanied her during her performances in England for royalty. This work about Sarah Bernhardt's many amazing accomplishments felt more academic than other historical fiction novels I have read. It almost had a biographical feel to it even though Sarah's voice told her story herself. I really think the author did a fantastic job of recreating a woman who never felt an ounce of self pity. She modernized acting and her fame grew against all of the obstacles a woman faced during the time period she lived. I highly recommend reading this outstanding narrative to those who enjoy the genre of historical fiction with a biographical feel. You will learn and expand your mind even if you aren't interested in the origins of actors and operas.

Thank you to Net Galley, the scholarly writer C.W. Gortner and Ballantine Publishing for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. The pleasure was all mine and all opinion's are my own.

Publication Date: May 26, 2020

#TheFirstActress #CWGortner #BallantineBooksPublishing #NetGalley

THE FIRST ACTRESS
BY C.W. GORTNER

This was very interesting to me because although I have always known of Sarah Bernhardt I didn't have a comprehensive understanding of what a true trail blazer she was in the ways she influenced and changed how acting was done. This book was written in the first person and made me feel like I knew Sarah intimately. I never knew what a hard life that she lived and I have grown to love and appreciate Sarah. She was very controversial in her lifetime for always living her life authentically on her own terms. Modern acting today really owes Sarah recognition for her efforts in going against tradition to bringing emotion and the way actors interact towards each other rather than saying their lines towards their audience.

Sarah never knew her father and her date of birth isn't known because the records housing those details have been destroyed in a fire. Her mother's name was Julie and she was very cruel to Sarah. Her mother was a courtesan in France and she wanted to marry off Sarah to a man Julie picked out. Sarah attended a convent and although she was Jewish she converted to catholic religion probably because of the years she spent with the nuns in the convent. In the convent Sarah received a good education although she was versed only in speaking french in her early formative years. Sarah knew she was born to be an actress so she clashed with her mother's plans for her prearranged marriage. She attended France's acting school. After attending her training she had an iron will not to follow in her mother's footsteps to become a courtesan or get married to a man her mother chose for her.

Sarah was close with her maternal Aunt Rosine but she was also a courtesan. Madame G. as she was endearing to be called by Sarah was more of a mother to Sarah as she was kinder and became a life long helper in Sarah's own household. In order to attain her dowry for the much needed money Sarah needed to support herself before she became an actress, she made a deal with her mother to attend the opera and attract a male to pay for Sarah to have a sexual relationship with. In that capacity, to raise the funds needed for Sarah to pay for her own apartment she agreed to have sex with an aristocrat with whom she became pregnant with her only child she named Maurice. Sarah went against everybody's wishes to abort her baby. When she approached the aristocrat who was the father of her unborn child he didn't want to take responsibility and he refused to give Sarah any money to raise the child. They made an agreement to never bring up the subject again. Even though he was rich and could afford to help finance Sarah's much needed financial support.

Her mother Julie had two more daughter's who were also illegitimate. The second daughter was Julie's golden child who followed in Julie and Rosine's footsteps to become a courtesan. Julie's youngest daughter was treated as unwanted and Sarah and Madame G. took care of her and loved her. Sarah started out as a struggling actress that got lesser roles despite her training and talent. She first worked for the Comedie until she was fired because of an altercation with the older and more established actress Nathalie. Sarah then went to a more notorious playhouse where she acted in roles that held little passion for her. She then went back to the more higher regarded theater the Comedie where she became well known for her outstanding roles. I felt badly for Sarah because she was treated with scorn and jealousies from her fellow female actresses. Sarah was a kind person and I was so moved by how her son Maurice was her most beloved relationship and she didn't act at all like her own mother who had rejected Sarah and thought her efforts and deep passion for acting was foolish.

This work of historical fiction was inspired by a more scholarly author who used many non-fiction books to depict a real life fleshed out human being that Sarah Bernhardt embodied. I think he stuck to factual aspects as much as possible. My experience of reading this volume of Sarah's life was to grow to love her just as I suspect C.W. Gortner did. He crafted a narrative that was always sympathetic to Sarah no matter how unconventional her actions were in the world during the time that she lived. She met Oscar Wilde and she called him her poet. He accompanied her during her performances in England for royalty. This work about Sarah Bernhardt's many amazing accomplishments felt more academic than other historical fiction novels I have read. It almost had a biographical feel to it even though Sarah's voice told her story herself. I really think the author did a fantastic job of recreating a woman who never felt an ounce of self pity. She modernized acting and her fame grew against all of the obstacles a woman faced during the time period she lived. I highly recommend reading this outstanding narrative to those who enjoy the genre of historical fiction with a biographical feel. You will learn and expand your mind even if you aren't interested in the origins of actors and operas.

Thank you to Net Galley, the scholarly writer C.W. Gortner and Ballantine Publishing for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. The pleasure was all mine and all opinion's are my own.

Publication Date: May 26, 2020

#TheFirstActress #CWGortner #BallantineBooksPublishing #NetGalley

THE FIRST ACTRESS
BY C.W. GORTNER

This was very interesting to me because although I have always known of Sarah Bernhardt I didn't have a comprehensive understanding of what a true trail blazer she was in the ways she influenced and changed how acting was done. This book was written in the first person and made me feel like I knew Sarah intimately. I never knew what a hard life that she lived and I have grown to love and appreciate Sarah. She was very controversial in her lifetime for always living her life authentically on her own terms. Modern acting today really owes Sarah recognition for her efforts in going against tradition to bringing emotion and the way actors interact towards each other rather than saying their lines towards their audience.

Sarah never knew her father and her date of birth isn't known because the records housing those details have been destroyed in a fire. Her mother's name was Julie and she was very cruel to Sarah. Her mother was a courtesan in France and she wanted to marry off Sarah to a man Julie picked out. Sarah attended a convent and although she was Jewish she converted to catholic religion probably because of the years she spent with the nuns in the convent. In the convent Sarah received a good education although she was versed only in speaking french in her early formative years. Sarah knew she was born to be an actress so she clashed with her mother's plans for her prearranged marriage. She attended France's acting school. After attending her training she had an iron will not to follow in her mother's footsteps to become a courtesan or get married to a man her mother chose for her.

Sarah was close with her maternal Aunt Rosine but she was also a courtesan. Madame G. as she was endearing to be called by Sarah was more of a mother to Sarah as she was kinder and became a life long helper in Sarah's own household. In order to attain her dowry for the much needed money Sarah needed to support herself before she became an actress, she made a deal with her mother to attend the opera and attract a male to pay for Sarah to have a sexual relationship with. In that capacity, to raise the funds needed for Sarah to pay for her own apartment she agreed to have sex with an aristocrat with whom she became pregnant with her only child she named Maurice. Sarah went against everybody's wishes to abort her baby. When she approached the aristocrat who was the father of her unborn child he didn't want to take responsibility and he refused to give Sarah any money to raise the child. They made an agreement to never bring up the subject again. Even though he was rich and could afford to help finance Sarah's much needed financial support.

Her mother Julie had two more daughter's who were also illegitimate. The second daughter was Julie's golden child who followed in Julie and Rosine's footsteps to become a courtesan. Julie's youngest daughter was treated as unwanted and Sarah and Madame G. took care of her and loved her. Sarah started out as a struggling actress that got lesser roles despite her training and talent. She first worked for the Comedie until she was fired because of an altercation with the older and more established actress Nathalie. Sarah then went to a more notorious playhouse where she acted in roles that held little passion for her. She then went back to the more higher regarded theater the Comedie where she became well known for her outstanding roles. I felt badly for Sarah because she was treated with scorn and jealousies from her fellow female actresses. Sarah was a kind person and I was so moved by how her son Maurice was her most beloved relationship and she didn't act at all like her own mother who had rejected Sarah and thought her efforts and deep passion for acting was foolish.

This work of historical fiction was inspired by a more scholarly author who used many non-fiction books to depict a real life fleshed out human being that Sarah Bernhardt embodied. I think he stuck to factual aspects as much as possible. My experience of reading this volume of Sarah's life was to grow to love her just as I suspect C.W. Gortner did. He crafted a narrative that was always sympathetic to Sarah no matter how unconventional her actions were in the world during the time that she lived. She met Oscar Wilde and she called him her poet. He accompanied her during her performances in England for royalty. This work about Sarah Bernhardt's many amazing accomplishments felt more academic than other historical fiction novels I have read. It almost had a biographical feel to it even though Sarah's voice told her story herself. I really think the author did a fantastic job of recreating a woman who never felt an ounce of self pity. She modernized acting and her fame grew against all of the obstacles a woman faced during the time period she lived. I highly recommend reading this outstanding narrative to those who enjoy the genre of historical fiction with a biographical feel. You will learn and expand your mind even if you aren't interested in the origins of actors and operas.

Thank you to Net Galley, the scholarly writer C.W. Gortner and Ballantine Publishing for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. The pleasure was all mine and all opinion's are my own.

Publication Date: May 26, 2020

#TheFirstActress #CWGortner #BallantineBooksPublishing #NetGalley

THE FIRST ACTRESS
BY C.W. GORTNER

This was very interesting to me because although I have always known of Sarah Bernhardt I didn't have a comprehensive understanding of what a true trail blazer she was in the ways she influenced and changed how acting was done. This book was written in the first person and made me feel like I knew Sarah intimately. I never knew what a hard life that she lived and I have grown to love and appreciate Sarah. She was very controversial in her lifetime for always living her life authentically on her own terms. Modern acting today really owes Sarah recognition for her efforts in going against tradition to bringing emotion and the way actors interact towards each other rather than saying their lines towards their audience.

Sarah never knew her father and her date of birth isn't known because the records housing those details have been destroyed in a fire. Her mother's name was Julie and she was very cruel to Sarah. Her mother was a courtesan in France and she wanted to marry off Sarah to a man Julie picked out. Sarah attended a convent and although she was Jewish she converted to catholic religion probably because of the years she spent with the nuns in the convent. In the convent Sarah received a good education although she was versed only in speaking french in her early formative years. Sarah knew she was born to be an actress so she clashed with her mother's plans for her prearranged marriage. She attended France's acting school. After attending her training she had an iron will not to follow in her mother's footsteps to become a courtesan or get married to a man her mother chose for her.

Sarah was close with her maternal Aunt Rosine but she was also a courtesan. Madame G. as she was endearing to be called by Sarah was more of a mother to Sarah as she was kinder and became a life long helper in Sarah's own household. In order to attain her dowry for the much needed money Sarah needed to support herself before she became an actress, she made a deal with her mother to attend the opera and attract a male to pay for Sarah to have a sexual relationship with. In that capacity, to raise the funds needed for Sarah to pay for her own apartment she agreed to have sex with an aristocrat with whom she became pregnant with her only child she named Maurice. Sarah went against everybody's wishes to abort her baby. When she approached the aristocrat who was the father of her unborn child he didn't want to take responsibility and he refused to give Sarah any money to raise the child. They made an agreement to never bring up the subject again. Even though he was rich and could afford to help finance Sarah's much needed financial support.

Her mother Julie had two more daughter's who were also illegitimate. The second daughter was Julie's golden child who followed in Julie and Rosine's footsteps to become a courtesan. Julie's youngest daughter was treated as unwanted and Sarah and Madame G. took care of her and loved her. Sarah started out as a struggling actress that got lesser roles despite her training and talent. She first worked for the Comedie until she was fired because of an altercation with the older and more established actress Nathalie. Sarah then went to a more notorious playhouse where she acted in roles that held little passion for her. She then went back to the more higher regarded theater the Comedie where she became well known for her outstanding roles. I felt badly for Sarah because she was treated with scorn and jealousies from her fellow female actresses. Sarah was a kind person and I was so moved by how her son Maurice was her most beloved relationship and she didn't act at all like her own mother who had rejected Sarah and thought her efforts and deep passion for acting was foolish.

This work of historical fiction was inspired by a more scholarly author who used many non-fiction books to depict a real life fleshed out human being that Sarah Bernhardt embodied. I think he stuck to factual aspects as much as possible. My experience of reading this volume of Sarah's life was to grow to love her just as I suspect C.W. Gortner did. He crafted a narrative that was always sympathetic to Sarah no matter how unconventional her actions were in the world during the time that she lived. She met Oscar Wilde and she called him her poet. He accompanied her during her performances in England for royalty. This work about Sarah Bernhardt's many amazing accomplishments felt more academic than other historical fiction novels I have read. It almost had a biographical feel to it even though Sarah's voice told her story herself. I really think the author did a fantastic job of recreating a woman who never felt an ounce of self pity. She modernized acting and her fame grew against all of the obstacles a woman faced during the time period she lived. I highly recommend reading this outstanding narrative to those who enjoy the genre of historical fiction with a biographical feel. You will learn and expand your mind even if you aren't interested in the origins of actors and operas.

Thank you to Net Galley, the scholarly writer C.W. Gortner and Ballantine Publishing for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. The pleasure was all mine and all opinion's are my own.

Publication Date: May 26, 2020

#TheFirstActress #CWGortner #BallantineBooksPublishing #NetGalley

Wow! This book is absolutely incredible and intriguing! As a performer myself, I was immediately drawn to the description of this book, and I am so glad that I wished for it! Whenever I picked up “The First Actress”, I was whisked back in time, and truly feel I got to know so much more about Sarah Bernhardt.

C.W. Gortner is such an amazing author. He has a very special way of bringing the past to life, and you feel like you are right there in the 1800’s. He beautifully and seamlessly blends history and historical fiction. The historical figures he brings to life as his characters were written brilliantly and dramatically, and all of their interactions with one another felt so authentic and real to who they were (no spoilers here, but, I was excited to see some of my favorite novelists and playwrights in and / or mentioned in the book!). Also, I absolutely loved that the book is told from Sarah’s point of view. I feel like this allowed me as the reader to really get inside her head, and understand many of her fears, motivations, and desires. We first meet Sarah as a young girl, and watch her grow up, mature, and pursue her passions and dreams. She went through many ups and downs in her life, and some moments in this book are absolutely heart-wrenching. Others are beyond heart-warming. Sarah truly was an incredible and strong woman, and was very ahead of her time in many ways. I also adored her love of animals.

Furthermore, Mr. Gortner describes the locations and settings so wonderfully vividly, and everything jumps right off of the page. I could envision them all.

If you love historical fiction novels, I highly recommend this book! It is just so good! I could not wait to see what happened chapter after chapter, and found myself reading until very early in the morning to find out what happens next. This novel has made me want to go and do more research on Sarah, this time period, and theatre in the 1800’s. I also really loved what the author included at the end of the book about history, his research, etc.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group—Ballantine for the ARC of this novel, I so enjoyed it. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It was an interesting study of yet another woman caught between having to marry, become a courtesan like her mother or find a career that she could do on her own. I found her mother's total indifference hard to handle and didn't see Sarah succeeding as a nun.

Soooo interesting!

Historical fiction is my favorite genre. It speaks to me like no other genre can. I guess I like how it transports me to another place and time completely foreign than the time I am in presently. It's a great way to travel in your mind.. and this book was no exception!

This story tells the rise of Sarah Bernhardt, a French actress. The time period is the 1800s. Her life was so interesting and had major ups and downs. A very tempestuous life. In one instance, Sarah's mother took her out of school so she could become an escort.

I loved the development of Sarah's character. I knew next to nothing of the history that was Sarah Bernhardt. This was an enlightening and educational read and it completely enveloped me. Highly recommended.

Such an amazing tale. I was aware of Sarah Bernhardt's existence as one of the first "famous" actresses, but I knew nothing beyond that. This story follows her inception as an actress through her entire career and does an absolutely stunning and compelling job at that. Gortner brings her to life in a way that I think many would struggle with. The writing is flowery and descriptive and very well researched.
We learn of the story of Sarah Bernhardt, actress of Jewish descent and daughter of a courtesan, who finds herself unaware of how to proceed with her life from a very young age. She becomes an actress but like many women of the time, she has a hard time making her way as a single woman, alone. This is a story that will remind us all that women are capable of breaking out of any mold set for them and that they can do anything they put their mind to.
Run, DONT WALK, to read this when it is released, I adored it.

This ebook was provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

You are probably already familiar with the name Sarah Bernhardt and could connect her name to the theater. However, if you are like me, that is where your knowledge of Sarah Bernhardt ends. C.W. Gortner has painted a fascinating and riveting portrayal of Sarah Bernhardt in The First Actress. Gortner will take readers from a rough cottage in Brittany to the lush drawing rooms of the most influential leaders and characters of the late nineteenth century. Sarah's life was full of tumult, fame, controversy, passion, art, and love. Gortner does an outstanding job of bringing the life of Sarah Bernhardt into full living color. You absolutely will not want to miss this one!!

Everything Gortner touches is gold! He has a remarkable talent in finding unique characters that are complex, deliciously fascinating, and enigmas in their own time. I knew nothing about Sarah Bernhardt prior to reading this book. Her wants, needs, and desires are relatable to most women throughout history. She was a formidable force and Gortner embodies her essence with ease. A superb account of one who has been largely forgotten.

"The First Actress" is full of information about Sarah Bernhardt, a woman very much ahead of her time and someone I only had vague knowledge of. This book was very informative and well written. She was certainly an interesting person.

I want to believe that the name Sarah Bernhardt is familiar to everyone. I vaguely remembered the name myself. Shame of me to say, but I knew more about the dessert than about the actress. That is why I requested the book from #netgalley as soon as I saw it.
The life story of this woman is incredible. She had her highs and lows throughout her life and career. In my opinion she always emerged with her head up. Giving up was not her way. That is why I admire this woman. I was also pleasantly surprised to know that Sarah Bernhardt knew so many famous people of her time and was in a great relationship with some of them (Alexandre Duma). The author opened up a door to the room full of gossips and incredible characters of the time.
By reading this book, one will simply dive in the era. I didn't want to put the book down. I wanted to stay in La Belle Époque a little longer.

This was a very enjoyable novel about Sarah Bernhardt. I don't know how much was factual but it all seemed very plausible. I loved reading about her times and Paris. I think any fan of historical fiction would love this book.

What a fascinating woman who was born 100 years before her time. As the unloved and unwanted daughter of a demimondaine she began life wanting to be a nun before discovering her true calling as an actress. From ingenue to world famous actress and extraordinary personality, she did it all. Hot air balooning over Paris, having hundreds of photographs and paintings taken of her. Becoming great friends with Alexandre Dumas and Victor Hugo and other famous literary figures of the day she did it all. She has a passionate relationship with a count that left her with a son she adored and had a lifelong love of aniimals. I didn't know much about her before I read this book but thanks to net galley, the book's publisher and this great author, I want to know much more about her life.

Any book by C.W. Gortner is a wonderful treat and a joy to read and The First Actress is no exception as Gortner's pen and prose make reading this book an absolute delight. It's not often, any more, where an author uses language as a paint brush to write a story. Gortner as usual has used his paint brush to create a historical novel about actress Sarah Bernhardt.

Highly recommend.

Review written after downloading a galley from NetGalley.

Taking the middle ground I can only give this book 3 stars. If you are looking to be entertained or find out what the life of an actress might have been like during the 1800s, this is a 4 star book. Engaging, interesting, and worth your time. If you are looking for facts, and the truth about the indomitable Sarah Bernhardt, this is a 2 star effort at best. While I recognize that many of the facts surrounding her life are either hazy or non existent, Gortner himself admits he has created a fictional portrait of Ms. Bernhardt. It is only my humble opinion, but I feel she deserved a more true accounting, and there were things that were fictionalized that didn't need to be bothered with. However, I assume this was done to create a better story. That is why I felt the need to differentiate my rating depending on what you, the reader are looking for from this book. Thank you #NetGalley for allowing me to give my honest review of #TheFirstActress.

I love C.W. Gortner. Love his writing style. Love his choice of subjects. EACH and EVERY BOOK is better than the previous book. This book is no exception.

I will be honest. I had absolutely no knowledge, or interest, in Sarah Bernhardt. At least until I started reading this book. WOW. What a woman. I could actually hear her voice, I could see her facial expressions, and read her thoughts while reading the pages of this novel.

***SPOILER:*** There is one scene in the book that made me laugh out loud for over a minute. It perfectly describes the Sarah's personality.. The Franco-Prussian war has begun. Sarah believes her mother has taken the family (minus Sarah, who was away) to Holland. Sarah is understandably quite angry, her maid asks, "There's no war in Holland, is there?" Sarah replies, "Not until I get there!!!" And this is Mr. Gortner's Bernhardt. A spitfire with a social conscious. An amazing, incredible woman who did what was necessary to not only survive, but excel.

I can only say, WOW. . Read this book. If you've never read any of Mr. Gortner's biographies, start with this one, and work your way backwards. If you have read other books he's written, this is the best so far.

Highly Recommended!!!

This was my first book by C. W. Gortner, but it won't be the last. I was captivated by this fictional account of Sarah Bernhardt, the famous French actress from the late nineteenth century. This novel begins during her childhood and follows her through the first few decades of her controversial life. I knew very little about Bernhardt, but the actress really came alive for me while I read this novel. Bernhardt was born to a well-known Jewish courtesan with an upper-class clientele. Her mother, Julie, was a difficult woman with unorthodox views that influenced much of Bernhardt's approach to life.

One of the most interesting sections of the book dealt with the Franco-Prussian War. (With all the WWII fiction flooding the market, it was a relief to find a book that dealt with a different war.) Bernhardt was an innovative fighter with unflagging energy, and she helped to convert her company's theatre into an ad hoc hospital for the war's wounded victims.

I enjoyed the cameos from various historical figures--Dumas, Napoleon III, Bertie the Prince of Wales, Oscar Wilde, et al. After reading this novel, I want to learn more about French history during the late nineteenth century because it's so drastically different from the culture that ran contemporaneously in Great Britain. It's interesting that Victorian London would embrace an actress like Bernhardt, who was a single mother with a colorful lifestyle; anyone Brit who lived this kind of life would probably have been ostracized. But the English apparently loved Bernhardt--probably because she was so different from the norm. Bernhardt was an eccentric woman. She often slept in a coffin and owned several wild animals, like cheetahs and pumas, living in her French apartment. It's easy to see how she set the standard for modern celebrities.

If you have any interest in historical novels, I would suggest giving this book a try. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The First Actress is a fascinating look at the life of actress Sarah Bernhardt. I have enjoyed C.W. Gortner's previous books and loved this one too. I especially found the early theater details interesting! Recommended for fans of historical fiction.

This is a historical fiction book about the life of Sarah Bernhardt. As a child she grew up with a nanny. She always knew she was an unwanted child by her mother. She never knew her father.
When she finally went to live with her mother, she was readily sent off to Catholic boarding school. Even though she was Jewish and she never hid the fact, she did grow up with nuns.
This book is very intriguing. We are given raw details of Sarah's life, her relationship with her mother, her aunt and her sister's.
She loved animals. She had a menagerie of them including, birds, dogs, cats, a cheetah and other "wild" animals.
What Sarah is most know for is being an actress. She could also sculpt and paint.
She was multitalented.
This book tells of her struggles to become to best actress ever.
This is an enjoyable story. Well written. You become entirely invested in the characters. Excellent!

I don't have very much interest in Sarah Bernhardt, but that is not necessary here. This is a well written story of a very interesting, complicated woman. She had a fascinating life with lots of drive and attitude. Recommended for historical fiction fans.

Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!

Sarah Bernhardt is a real (and legendary) figure, but this is a fictionalized version of her life and story. I was fascinated by the story, and although I did feel like this book was a tad longer than it needed to be, the author has such a fantastic way with words and really captivates the reader.

I found this to be a fascinating look at the tumultuous life of actors in the French theater in the late 19th century and of Sarah Bernhardt in particular. Prior all I knew about her off stage life was "the casket." The writing is wonderful and the author's research about this very interesting woman is commendable.