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I have had the temerity to undertake a book about Anna Pavlova for two reasons. The first is that in the whole course of her theatrical life I was her closest associate. As her husband I had her unbounded confidence, managed all her affairs - theatrical and private - carried on all her correspondence, received those who came to see her (Pavlova herself could only very rarely receive anyone), was present at and assisted her in all her interviews for the press -and she was obliged to grant interviews to press representatives all over the world - spent with her her hours of leisure, made the necessary plans for new tours and discussed with her details of our vast and complicated enterprise. I stood nearer to her than anybody, and I knew and understood her thoughts and aspirations, her disappointments and chagrins better than anyone else.
In addition to my personal nearness to Pavlova, I met the thousands of people in all the corners of the earth who came to voice their enthusiasm and love. Through talking with them and receiving letters from them, during Pavlova’s life as well as after her death, I am in a position to judge better than any other to what a remarkable degree she shone forth a beacon of beauty and love. All human testimony from whatever sources only goes to confirm my judgment of her exceptional personality.
The second and chief reason for the appearance of this book is the wish of Anna Pavlova herself. Many and many a time in the course of her life she told me that I ought to write a book about her, as nobody knew her so well as I did. This was of course impossible while she was alive, but now it is my duty. I shall be happy beyond measure if I succeed in this book in giving an image of Pavlova full of that spiritual beauty, for which as a woman and as an artist she was so beloved. And I do not think this will be difficult, for in order to render unto her that which is justly hers, one has only to speak the truth.
VICTOR DANDRE
