DUET by WEBSTER BOOTH AND ANNE ZIEGLER digitised in 2016

"Duet", the autobiography of famous British duettists, Webster Booth and Anne Ziegler, was originally published by Stanley Paul in 1951. Sixty-five years later I have digitised the book and made it available as a paperback, epub and pdf book. My sincere thanks to John Marwood who proofread the book most painstakingly for me.
Webster and Anne tell the exciting story of their rise to fame, and their sensational romance. After Webster's divorce from Paddy Prior, his second wife, he and Anne married and became the most popular duettists of their day, earning them the deserved title of "Sweethearts of Song".


    

• By Fiona Compton

  May 31, 2016
  I read this book many years ago and am delighted that it has been digitised and once again available to those who are interested in reading about the illustrious careers of tenor Webster Booth and soprano Anne Ziegler. Although the book was written by a ghost-writer, the tone of the alternate chapters written in turn by Anne and Webster captures the personalities of both writers - Webster's writing is more measured and thoughtful than Anne's enthusiastic, spontaneous writing. 
• Webster Booth had one of the finest British tenor voices of the twentieth century and had a distinguished career in oratorio and recording in his own right. Anne Ziegler had a pleasant light soprano voice and a charming personality, but she was never in the same vocal class as her husband. 
• This book is entitled "Duet", so the emphasis of the book is on the work the couple did together as duettists on the concert and variety stage. I thoroughly enjoyed the book but I would have liked to have heard more about Webster's distinguished solo singing career. No doubt this book was responsible for giving people the idea that Webster was merely a romantic duettist in partnership with his wife, doing nothing more than singing light songs together with her. 
• Despite this reservation, the book moves at lightning pace and is most enjoyable. I recommend it highly.

A SCATTERED GARLAND: GLEANINGS FROM THE LIVES OF WEBSTER BOOTH AND ANNE ZIEGLER (IN FOUR VOLUMES)

         

By Jean Collen View this Author's Spotlight

I published  A Scattered Garland: Gleanings from the Lives of Webster Booth and Anne Ziegler in one volume in 2006. Because I found out so much more additional information I have updated the book which now extends to four volumes. These books are available as paperbacks and ebooks:

 Volume 1: Early days (1920s – 1939)  

Volume 2: Years at the top in the UK (1940 – 1956) ] At the Top
Volume 3 South Africa (1956 – 1977)

Volume 4: Back in the UK (1978 – 2003) and additional information These volumes include articles, criticisms, cuttings, and extracts from the online archives of The Times, The Scotsman and The Stage, and other newspapers. In Volume 3 I have included material from New Zealand and Australian newspapers and in Volume 4 there is material from South African newspapers. Occasionally I have supplemented this material with my own notes. All my own writing is italicised.

 

Author of "A Scattered Garland".