GORDON CRAIG

by Edward Craig ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 19, 1968

Edward Craig was for years his illustrious father's chief assistant. Their fond relationship and correspondence continued right up until a week or so before his death ""when he could no longer hold a pen and just sent me his thumb-print and a kiss."" However Edward was totally aware of his capricious father's rather generous faults and the fact that behind the facile facade loomed ""the real, tragic, despairing, self-doubting artist."" The sublime visionary, the unthinking egotist, the man who ""saw the whole of life through a proscenium arch"" and whose personal life was as dramatic as his stage designs. The illegitimate son of actress Ellen Terry, Gordon inherited his mother's theatrical flair, his father, architect Edwin William Godwin's artistic talents, and both their somewhat reckless irresponsibility. He was to have an unusual assortment of wives, mistresses and illegitimate children. Most notable was his stormy two year affair with dancer Isadora Duncan who later became his entre to Stanislavski who would recognize genius in Craig's revolutionary concepts--his passion for what is known today as ""mixed media"" expressionism--a kinetic theatre. This is all detailed from a huge assortment of letters, notes and memoirs as well as personal recollection. And the men and women who moved behind the arch in that flamboyant, exciting theatrical era are brilliantly reclaimed and recorded in this excellent biography.

Pub Date: Nov. 19, 1968

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Knopf

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1968

Categories: NONFICTION