Edwin Forrest: The Actor and the Man. Critical and Reminiscent

An extremely scarce first edition, signed by the author, of this fascinating biography of a nineteenth century American actor. 'I hereby certify that the Brooklyn Eagle Book Printing Department has printed only two hundred copies of this work', of which this is number 194. (Printer's Guarantee). With a tissue-guarded frontispiece and several further tissue-guarded plates, some depicting illustrations of the subject by the author. Edwin Forrest (1806–1872) was a popular American actor. As a young man he took elocution lessons and performed with an amateur acting society, the conventional route to an acting career in a profession still dominated by English theatrical traditions. He also trained his body by practising acrobatics, a regimen he continued throughout his life. The young star was 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a muscular build and a clear, melodious voice that ranged easily from a low growl to rafter-shaking power. In acting style he combined Kean's passionate outbursts with the deliberate declamation of the Kemble tradition. His powerful performances generally gravitated between long passages of rhetorical restraint with little movement and moments of quick action and emotional release. Because of Forrest's charismatic appeal and republican persona, his performances in the 1830s and 1840s induced hero worship from lower- and middle-class males in American cities. His fame increased after a successful London début in 1836; the London press disliked his prize plays, but praised his passionate sincerity. DNB In a half crushed morocco binding with marbled boards. Externally, a trifle rubbed but very attractive. Both joints are cracked. Internally, firmly bound. There is mild age toning to the pages, but not the plates, and it remains lovely and clean throughout. Slight off-setting to the title from the frontis. An extremely unusual book. Very Good.…