The Ridgefield Historical Society’s archive is, for a relatively small town, surprisingly huge. It feels at times like there are countless interesting artifacts from Ridgefield’s history stored in the vault.
It feels only natural that one of the most stand-out objects in the archive should be the autobiography of one of Ridgefield’s most stand-out residents: opera star Geraldine Farrar (1882-1967). Farrar’s book Such Sweet Compulsion gives readers a peek into her fascinating life. Farrar not only starred in numerous operas, but she also acted in 15 films from the years 1915 to 1920, most famously the adaptation of Georges Bizet’s Carmen. Earning two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, it’s safe to say that Farrar has had one of the most remarkable careers of any Ridgefield resident.
It wasn’t until the late 1930’s that Farrar’s career began to cool down, after which she eventually moved to Ridgefield, first on West Lane and later on New Street, where she lived until her death in 1967.
It is very exciting to have this depiction of Farrar’s life in her own words, particularly in the first edition that the Ridgefield Historical Society has, which is now considered a rare item.
Jane Prusko was one of the Ridgefield Historical Society’s four interns from the 2024 senior class at Ridgefield High School. A familiar face, she had also volunteered as a summer intern in 2023.
Search Geraldine Farrar’s Autobiography through our online collection 2008.007.0001
