Yet without such punishing, almost masochistically arduous work, the Mary Robinsons of this world would disappear into obscurity. Only someone not easily deterred would persevere in such a situation, particularly since gathering facts about such a life is even more akin to looking for the right pebbles on a beach than most biographical exercises. More often, no publisher would take it, or the advance would be minuscule, the work arduous and sales disappointing. This makes it all the more unusual that a book like this has been published. Yet 200 years later nobody knows who she is. "Perdita," as she was called (after her most famous role), was well enough known to be the subject of cartoonists and the favorite model for such portraitists as Hoppner, Romney, Gainsborough and Reynolds.Ī snap, one would think, to write about. Such accomplishments would be startling in any epoch. Here is an amazing story, that of a girl with modest prospects who makes her mark as an actress, dabbles in poetry, writes novels and plays and becomes mistress of the Prince of Wales - and all of this before dying at the age of 43. The life of Mary Robinson provides an object lesson in a problem that chronically afflicts biographers. The Literary, Theatrical, Scandalous Life of Mary Robinson By Reviewed Meryle Secrest August 14, 2005
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |