Buy this book on-line

ETHEL FISKE : 1899 HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT DIARY OF A YOUNG ASPIRING SINGER WHO TRAVELS THE ATLANTIC TO STUDY WITH SOME OF EUROPE'S GREATS

8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. On offer is a sensational original manuscript diary handwritten by Ethel Fiske who was the daughter of Dr. John Fiske and lived on Brattle Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The entire diary is concerned with Ethel's voice lessons both in the U.S. and in Paris where she goes to continue her musical studies. She details her singing lessons, names the songs that she sings and comments and critiques her music teachers. Her Massachusetts teacher was Mlle. Avigliana. There are several very long letters from Avigliana to Ethel tipped in. In October 1900, at age 28, Ethel travels to France with her friend Francis Ames (there are two original photographs of Ms. Ames tipped in the diary) where she becomes the student of Paul Marcel (along with a very successful young student named Mlle Dodge.) She hopes to become a singing sensation and the diary is full of the compliments and words of praise that she garners. Her father dies and she returns to the U.S. for a few weeks, returning to France to become the student of the famous music teacher Mathilde Marchesi (there are 2 original handwritten letters from Marchesi) but no explanation of why she left Marcel. Tipped in or laid in the diary are 7 music programs, 11 original handwritten letters, 9 news clippings, 7 original photographs and 6 miscellaneous pieces of ephemera. The diary ends somewhat abruptly. There is a short section dated 1904 which indicates that Ethel is still in France and has a salon at which she sings for very small audiences. Octavo, 88 pages of neatly written, legible, text with many blank pages at end, maroon leather with initial E. F. 1899 on front. Overall G+.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

Bibliophile Bookbase for antiquarian books, maps and prints.