THE DRAMA OF CELEBRITY

Olivia Vinall delivers an engaging narration of Marcus's exhaustive research on the origins of modern celebrity culture. Marcus uses libraries, theater reviews, newspaper archives, and other primary sources to reveal the ways celebrity culture affects society. Using Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923), whom she calls the "godmother of modern celebrity culture," to illustrate her thesis, Marcus explains how Bernhardt used the media to her advantage, publicizing her idiosyncratic behaviors in order to achieve star status. Vinall's narration delivers Bernhardt's eccentric behaviors--sleeping in a satin-lined coffin, having sex with multiple cross-gender partners, keeping exotic animals--without bias or overdramatization. She emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between celebrities, the public, and the media. Vinall's pace and tone are just right for this fascinating investigation of celebrity in our media-driven world. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2019]