Focusing on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Beaumont, a dance historian and critic, outlines the principal ballets and choreographers that achieved renown in London, Paris, and St. Petersburg. Relying on original documents and secondary records for performances before 1910, and interviews and first-hand observation for those occurring later, he presents an informal history of what he considers to be the most influential and innovative ballets of this period. Beaumont’s exploration of these people and events will allow me to examine the shifts that occurred in terms of style and storyline in the ballet world throughout the nineteenth century and how these shifts may have affected the use of pointe shoes.