SIGNED Tamara Karsavina Theatre Street 1930 FIRST EDITION J M Barrie HB Used

The autobiography of one the greatest prima ballerinas of all time, and an exceptional rarity to encounter autographed by her. This wonderful gem of a book is SIGNED in full by Tamara Karsavina to the first front blank end-paper. Tamara Karsavina (1885 -1978), the great Russian prima ballerina, renowned for her beauty, was a principal artist of the Imperial Russian Ballet and later of the Ballets Russes of Serge Diaghilev, where she was Nijinsky's chief partner.

Her technical perfection, wit, rare intelligence, and deep feeling made her a legend in her own lifetime. Petersburg in 1885, Karsavina's early career saw her dance with the Imperial Ballet alongside her celebrated rival dancer Anna Pavlova, before appearing with the distinguished Diaghilev ballet in 1909 as perhaps the greatest of Russian dancers.

The book covers Karsavina's account of her early life at the Imperial Ballet School, and her subsequent career at the Marinsky Theatre and the Ballets Russes. The reminiscences make for a charming, engaging read. Fair to Good Used Condition (Split to spine cloth, bottom corner bumped/creased, some foxing to first few pages, general age related wear, please see photo's for reference).