The memoirs of the pioneering Danish silent film star Asta Nielsen in English translation for the first time, with scholarly introduction and annotations. From her explosive screen debut in The Abyss (1910) through her "scandalous" fourth marriage at age 89, the Danish actress Asta Nielsen (1881-1972) was a darling of fans and the press, a global star without parallel in the silent era. So famous in Germany that she was known simply as "die Asta," during her two decades of active filmmaking Nielsen also published about her career, her impoverished childhood, her breakthrough into film, the price of fame, and her interactions with the German film industry. In 1938 Nielsen returned to Denmark, where she published her memoirs in two volumes in 1945-46, expanding on her earlier writings. This carefully crafted, colorful text offers eyewitness insights into early European film, Nielsen's star persona, and the challenges of stardom in Germany in the tumultuous period before World War II. Yet although they have appeared in multiple Danish, German, and Russian editions, the memoirs have never been published in English until now. Nielsen's work has enduring value for transnational film history, and the recent growth of interest in women's contributions to early film makes the time ripe for this translation. Julie K. Allen accompanies the text with a scholarly introduction and annotations, and a foreword by leading early film scholar Jennifer M. Bean frames the volume.

About the Author
ASTA NIELSEN (1881-1972) was a Danish actress, one of the greatest stars of the silent film era. JULIE K. ALLEN is Professor of Comparative Literature and Scandinavian Studies at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. JULIE K. ALLEN is Professor of Comparative Literature and Scandinavian Studies at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

Reviews
Lively, readable, and engaging, the book also confirms the important creative role of actors in the forging of the new art of cinema. -- Diana Holmes * Modern Language Review *



Book Information
ISBN 9781640141261
Author Asta Nielsen
Format Hardback
Page Count 350
Imprint Camden House Inc
Publisher Boydell & Brewer Ltd
Weight(grams) 1g