'There is not a weak link in the book. A compelling setof case studies intriguingly sets out much that nuances understanding of the kinds of figures who exert more attention now than perhaps ever before.' - Modernism/Modernity
'A fascinating collection of essays that invites us to compare theatrical personalities of different ages, and wonder what makes these people, of all those who are professionally involved in the creation of fictional personae for public consumption, special.' - Times Literary Supplement
'The essays collected here...make a valuable contribution to understanding the history of a phenomenon that, while it has only recently started to receive serious attention, has clearly been with us for some time.' Tom Mole, Theatre Notebook