Six Novels Set In The World Of Theater
There is a natural connection between the theatrical and the written word, and a long tradition of novels set around the world of theater. We decided to pick six that have particularly impressed us for our latest selection of recommendations.
The Vagabond - Colette (1910)
A French classic that was translated to English and rediscovered in recent times, The Vagabond is an autofictional account of Colette’s life. It follows recently divorced Renee trying to make her new life as a music hall artist, an activity adjacent to the theater in early twentieth century France. Though it’s over a century old, the book feels contemporary in its tale of a woman’s struggle to choose between work, security and love.
The Good Companions - JB Priestley (1929)
Another book from the early part of the twentieth century, The Good Companions is a long romp following a group of misfits who join a theater troupe that is travelling across England. Character driven with a large ensemble cast and a languid omniscient narrator, it was a big success at the time, and though it might feel dated now, it’s a very funny, authentic and entertaining tale that foreshadowed Priestley’s achievements as a playwright.
Tipping the Velvet - Sarah Waters (1998)
Sarah Waters’ debut novel is a Victorian romp through the late nineteenth century that also serves as the coming of age of Nan - a girl from Canterbury who becomes enamoured with music hall male impersonator Kitty Butler. Exploring queer history with much of the book set in the world of the music halls and performance venues of the time, this novel has become a cult classic.
Station Eleven - Emily St. John Mandel (2014)
Though this book could well be considered a pandemic novel or a post-apocalyptic literary book, it begins with a production of King Lear and explores ideas of performance and humanity with tact. This is book about the end of the world, about a post-apocalyptic Shakespearean troupe, and one about a Hollywood actor's crisis, but it’s also a book that defies genre and expectation with a quiet, powerful wisdom.
Actress - Anne Enright (2020)
Anne Enright’s book is not just about the theater but also about motherhood, purpose and work. The celebrated Booker winner had a brief life as an actor as well, and she tells the story of Katherine O’Dell through the search of her daughter Norah. Exploring her mother’s bohemian life and celebrated career, she discovers secrets, herself and much more in a novel that is essential reading.
Enter Ghost - Isabella Hammad (2023)
Though it was written before the current horrors unfolding in Palestine, Isabella Hammad’s second novel is a stunning rendering of present-day Palestine. Through the story of an actress who is part of a staging of a Shakespeare play in the West Bank, Enter Ghost explores diaspora, displacement, art and the connection to be found in family and shared resistance to occupation.