[1909] The Story of My Life

Description

Early Edition, Illustrated, Publishers' Original Binding, Signed

The second edition.

Signed by Ellen to the recto of the front endpaper, and to the title page. Inscribed to the recto of the front endpaper "I am glad you knew Lawrence Irving - a great man - I thank you for your letter - E. T. Aug 1918", and to the title page "In remembrance of 1918, Ellen Terry, "Let us be backed with God + with the Seas"-". Additionally signed by Ellen to the plates facing pages 58, 261, and 281.

The autobiography of the greatest Shakespearian actress of her day, Ellen Terry. Born into a family of actors, she joined the company of Henry Irving in 1878 as his leading lady, where she played two of her famous roles, as Portia in 'The Merchant of Venice', and Beatrice in 'Much Ado About Nothing'.

Illustrated with a frontispiece, and sixty-seven plates. Collated, complete. Collated from Jisc, from a copy held at the Victoria and Albert Museum Libraries.

Letter from the great-nephew of Ellen, John Gielgud, is loosely inserted, in the original envelope; "January 21.69. Dear Miss Pollak, How very kind and sweet of you to write. Of course I was most happy to have this opportunity of paying a tribute to the memories of Irving and Terry, whose Lyceum reign has always meant so much to my imagination. What I would give to have seen them there together just once. Most sincerely, John Gielgud". Gielgud was an actor and theatre director, who, alongside Ralph Richardson and Laurence Olivier, dominated the British theatre of the twentieth century. 

Prior owner has tipped in newspaper clippings regarding Terry to the paste downs and endpapers. Additionally the prior owner has tipped-in their own typed notes on Terry to pages 76 and 301. Inscription of Herbert Hugh Harvey to the recto of the front endpaper. Harvey with an avid theatre fan.

Six pages of adverts to the rear.