Ellen Terry (1848–1928) was a celebrated British actress renowned on the stage for her Shakespearean roles. Her performing career was closely bound up with the nineteenth-century British theatre, and her stage presence won her a devoted audience. Two of her works are held in this collection: The Story of My Life: Recollections and Reflections and The Russian Ballet. The Story of My Life is a memoir that records her stage career and reflections on life, written in a warm, natural style with an actress's keen observation and emotional warmth; The Russian Ballet reflects her interest in and writing on the art of dance. Though different in subject, both works show her long-standing engagement with the performing arts. Public information on her early years and specific training is limited, and this introduction makes no conjecture on such matters. Her writing is distinguished not by theoretical construction but by personal experience and delicate feeling, offering a first-hand perspective on British theatre and performance of her time.
