Page "Junius Brutus Booth" Paragraph 8

Booth went to the United States in 1821, abandoning his wife and young son for another woman.

Booth quickly got hired to play Richard III.

Upon his late arrival to rehearsals, his employers were skeptical due to his appearance, wondering, “ Is it possible this can be ‘ the great Mr. Booth, ‘ undoubtedly the best actor living ?’” In under a year, Booth became the most prominent actor in America.

Critic William Winter said, “ He was followed as a marvel.

Mention of his name stirred an enthusiasm no other could awaken ” ( Smith 23 ).

They settled in Bel Air, Maryland.

He embarked upon a thirty-year acting career that made him famous throughout the country.

Booth traveled to such cities as Baltimore, Boston and New York.