Blaze of Glory

Book excerpt: First published in 1950, this book from the author of Light in the Sky tells the story of a beautiful, imperious, thoroughly spoiled young woman; her ambitions, loves and jealousies, all magnificently displayed against a panorama of New York society and theatrical life in the 1880s. Willow Cleveland left her husband and came to New York determined to be the star of the stage. Backed by the unlimited wealth of an admiring millionaire, she achieved her ambition only to find that it took more to make a great actress than a mere desire to bask in a blaze of glory. Meanwhile her dynamic young husband came to New York determined to break her spirit and bring her back to his home. And a theatrical producer, who was clever enough to see the talent beneath the willful surface, was equally determined to make her into a truly great actress. How Willow Cleveland’s husband fought a financial battle with her rich admirer and fell in love with his niece; how Willow learned the hard way to humble her pride and work for success in the theatre is the theme of this brilliant new novel, set against a background of gaslights and hansom cabs, of dinners at Delmonico’s and tempests and triumphs behind the footlights.