C. W. Gortner is such a wonderful writer when it comes to reimagining the lives of famous women. I have read many of his books and enjoyed every one! It’s so rare that a male writer can capture the essence and stories of women to such an exacting degree but he does it every single time! If you haven’t read any of his books you definitely need to.
If you have been reading historical fiction for a while, Gortner will no doubt be on your radar. His latest book, The First Actress, is out now in paperback and since its hardback release last year, it’s been getting a lot of high praise from readers. It follows the story of Sarah Bernhardt who is the first ‘film star’ and in this book, her story is told from her own POV which I think is powerful and exciting.
I am hoping to read this one in the fall but since the paperback is out now, I thought I would share a bit about this book with you guys today! Gortner has a practiced hand when it comes to story telling and he also does a fantastic amount of research for all of his novels. I have no doubt that this book will be equally as well thought out and researched as his others. Be sure to snag yourselves a copy today!
Summary
The tumultuous life of the legendary French star Sarah Bernhardt–the world’s first modern actress and international celebrity–dazzles in this stunning novel for readers of Love and Ruin and Mistress of the Ritz.
From her beginnings as the daughter of a high-class courtesan to her extraordinary transformation into the most celebrated actress of her era, Sarah Bernhardt is brought to life by an internationally bestselling author praised for his historical novels featuring famous women.
Her highly dramatic professional life begins when Sarah’s mother pulls her out of convent school to set Sarah up in her own trade as a sexual companion to a rich elderly gentleman. Despite her desire to pursue a career in stage acting, her mother cuts her off and Sarah has no choice but to comply. Pregnant and unmarried at sixteen, she is expected to give up her baby to the nuns, but she refuses to let him go.
A natural talent and darkly beautiful, Sarah gets a few theatrical roles, thanks to her bold, innovative acting style that attracts both admiration and scorn. Audiences want to see this controversial young actress, and amazingly, she is hired by the famed Comédie Française–only to have her life torn asunder in the savagery of the 1870 Siege of Paris. Amidst the ruins of the city, Sarah nurses wounded soldiers while falling passionately in love with her leading man.
Rising to the height of her fame as the toast of Paris, shocking audiences with her uninhibited acting style and portrayal of male characters, Sarah becomes world famous, touring America and Europe to sold-out crowds. Told in her own voice, this is Sarah Bernhardt’s incandescent story–a fascinating, intimate account of a woman whose wholly original talent and indomitable spirit has enshrined her in history as the Divine Sarah (summary from Goodreads)
The Lit Bitch 
Yes, this does sound interesting. I asked for the ARC of this but they turned me down. I guess I’ll order the paperback when it comes out.