Autobiography of Margot Fonteyn SIGNED 1976 1st American Edition Alfred Knopf

Description: DUE TO THE DELICATE NATURE OF THIS BOOK IT WILL BE A FINAL SALE. PLEASE LOOK AT ALL PHOTOS AND ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE BIDDING - THANKS! This is a signed copy from Margot and her husband Tito to a Mr. J. Paul Sidebotham. He seems to have been a close friend and there is a copy of a letter from Paul to them included in the book. It’s been taped inside. Also in the book is the newspaper clippings announcing the book signing. One is taped in, one is loose. The tape has aged to brown and the clippings have turned brown. The book itself is in nice shape with the main wear being to the edges of dust jacket. Side note: I am actually a relative of the Doubledays thru my father’s mother’s side. I guess books are in my blood! Dame Margaret Evelyn de Arias DBE (née Hookham; 18 May 1919 – 21 February 1991), known by the stage name Margot Fonteyn, was an English ballerina. She spent her entire career as a dancer with the Royal Ballet (formerly the Sadler's Wells Theatre Company), eventually being appointed prima ballerina assoluta of the company by Queen Elizabeth II. Beginning ballet lessons at the age of four, she studied in England and China, where her father was transferred for his work. Her training in Shanghai was with Russian expatriate dancer Georgy Goncharov, contributing to her continuing interest in Russian ballet. Returning to London at the age of 14, she was invited to join the Vic-Wells Ballet School by Ninette de Valois. She succeeded Alicia Markova as prima ballerina of the company in 1935. The Vic-Wells choreographer, Sir Frederick Ashton, wrote numerous parts for Fonteyn and her partner, Robert Helpmann, with whom she danced from the 1930s to the 1940s. In 1961, when Fonteyn was considering retirement, Rudolf Nureyev defected from the Kirov Ballet while dancing in Paris. Fonteyn, though reluctant to partner with him because of their 19-year age difference, danced with him in his début with the Royal Ballet in Giselle on 21 February 1962. The duo immediately became an international sensation, each dancer pushing the other to their best performances. They were most noted for their classical performances in works such as Le Corsaire Pas de Deux, Les Sylphides, La Bayadère, Swan Lake, and Raymonda, in which Nureyev sometimes adapted choreographies specifically to showcase their talents. The pair premièred Ashton's Marguerite and Armand, which had been choreographed specifically for them, and were noted for their performance in the title roles of Sir Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet. The following year, Fonteyn's husband was shot during an assassination attempt and became a quadriplegic, requiring constant care for the remainder of his life. In 1972, Fonteyn went into semi-retirement, although she continued to dance periodically until the end of the decade. In 1979, she was fêted by the Royal Ballet and officially pronounced the prima ballerina assoluta of the company. She retired to Panama, where she spent her time writing books, raising cattle, and caring for her husband. She died from ovarian cancer exactly 29 years after her premiere with Nureyev in Giselle. This is a rare and special edition of the autobiography of Margot Fonteyn, signed by the author herself in 1976. This hardcover book, published by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, is a must-have for fans of entertainment and performing arts. It is a nonfiction narrative that explores the life and career of one of the most iconic ballerinas of all time. With its beautiful illustrations and insightful details, this book is perfect for young adults and adults alike. It is written in English and weighs 30.4 Oz. Get your hands on this incredible piece of literature today and experience the magic of Margot Fonteyn's life story.

Price: 75 USD

Location: New York, New York

End Time: 2024-10-24T01:06:51.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD