by Anne Sebba
First published 1983
Margot Fonteyn stands at the barre in a London rehearsal studio, her body already telling the story of decades devoted to ballet. The Royal Opera House has shaped her into Britain's most celebrated dancer, but beneath the stage lights and applause lies a woman wrestling with the demands of perfection. Her partnership with Rudolf Nureyev electrifies audiences yet complicates her carefully ordered world. As political upheaval touches her personal life through her husband's involvement in Panama, Fonteyn must balance her artistic calling with the messy realities beyond the theater. The novel traces her journey from provincial dance student to international star, exploring how she maintains her artistry while navigating love, loyalty, and the relentless passage of time that threatens every dancer's career.
Genres: art, romance, historical-fiction, 20th-century, biographical-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
48 pages · Hardcover · Julia Macrae