Four Saints in Three Acts by Gertrude Stein and Virgil Thomson was a major avant-garde phenomenon of the 1930s, an experimental opera that nonetheless achieved remarkable popular success. Photography was a key element of that success, but its complex roles in the construction, representation and dissemination of the opera have hitherto received little critical attention. The photographic recording of the all-African American cast in particular affords a unique insight into the complexities of Four Saints in relation to the Harlem Renaissance and the New York avant-gardes of the time.

This book, published in collaboration with The Photographers' Gallery, London, presents a wide selection of photographs of the cast, performances, and other material - many images reproduced for the first time - alongside essays by an international range of scholars exploring different aspects of the opera, including dance, fashion, music, and avant-garde writing, as well as photography.

About the Author

Patricia Allmer is Professor of Modern and Contemporary Art History at the University of Edinburgh

John Sears is an independent scholar

Reviews

'4 Saints in 3 Acts-A Snapshot of the American Avant-Grade in the 1930s is a comprehensive and engrossing examination of the landmark opera. Along with its collection of masterful essays, the book includes a collection of rare photographs of African American actors that add another layer to our understanding of the cultural phenomenon that was 4 Saints in 3 Acts.'
Emily Bernard, Professor of English and Critical Race and Ethnic Studies at University of Vermont

'In sum, Patricia Allmer and John Sears' book Four Saints in Three Acts: A Snapshot of the American Avant-Garde in the 1930s (Allmer and Sears 2017), accompanying the exhibition, impressively analyzes a vast and complex amount of this historical material, and the beautifully curated photographs offer a visual overview of the avant-garde opera.'
Lisa Moravec, Photography and Culture (March 2019)

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Book Information
ISBN 9781526113030
Author Patricia Allmer
Format Paperback
Page Count 200
Imprint Manchester University Press
Publisher Manchester University Press
Weight(grams) 386g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 156mm * 14mm