Book Review: Playing to the Gods by Peter Rader

How fascinating this was! I am no expert in the early theater or early movies, but find the origins of stardom and the cult of personality exceedingly interesting, so this title – which explored the “rivalry” between Sarah Bernhardt and Eleonora Duse and their individual approaches to acting and fame – drew me in right away.

I was familiar with both actresses, although like most people, more so with Bernhardt than Duse. The two women were pitted as rivals, yet shared a startling number of qualities (chief among them perseverance and an extraordinary unwillingness to accept the role others tried to slot them into). Their careers were exceptionally dramatic (perhaps not surprising, given the field they both excelled in), as were their lives (most notably in the romantic, financial, and familial arenas).

These two women WERE theater in the early twentieth century, and the cult of celebrity was forever shaped by the opposing paths and approaches the two took to fame and publicity. Their marks – particularly Duse’s – on modern acting and staging cannot be overstated either. From method acting to the very language we speak (I had no idea “doozy” was coined after Duse!), these were exceptional women who lived larger than life lives, largely independently – at a time when most women were barely treated as more than possessions…

The “battle royale” between the two actresses and their wildly different approaches to acting and theater was exceedingly entertaining to read – particularly given the state of the world throughout the course of their careers. Rader’s writing style was engaging and entertaining, offering not only a great story but also a history lesson, taking the reader on a detailed (but not overly so) trip through European history, the history of theater, and even the rise of cinema.

My review copy was provided by NetGalley. This title releases in the U.S. on August 21, 2018. Oh, and make sure you check out this YouTube video of Dame Sarah – it’s amazing to me that this is available online!!