Born in Philadelphia in 1879, Ethel Barrymore would eventually prove herself a vital actor who was suited to radio, stage, and screen. After breaking out with Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines (1901), she performed in many plays, including Alice Sit-By-The-Fire (1905), Déclassée (1919), and The Corn Is Green (1943), before investing her energies in films such as The Spiral Staircase (1946) and Portrait of Jennie (1949). Barrymore ultimately won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in None but the Lonely Heart (1944) opposite Cary Grant.

By the time of her passing in 1959, Barrymore knew Hollywood's fickle nature all too well, yet she remained committed to the Drew and Barrymore stage acting legacy. This book details such disappointments as having to relinquish her childhood dream of being a concert pianist for acting. Spaltro also pulls directly from interviews to illustrate how Barrymore, often misinterpreted as demure, was exhausted by the stage she so masterfully commanded.

Far more than a "rise and fall" narrative, Ethel Barrymore paints an empathetic picture of the struggles Barrymore faced, from her ascension to stardom to her "abdication of the throne." Spaltro's comprehensive and nuanced approach recontextualizes Barrymore's career, showcasing just how much her dogged allegiance to the Drew–Barrymore legacy cost her.