This biography is based upon newly released primary sources, including private letters from key players in Marilyn Monroe's life. The author travelled around America to do her research and talked to Arthur Miller, Anna Freud, Yves Montant and Monroe's psychiatrist.
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This extraordinarily thoughtful book by Barbara Leaming, a literary star among film-star biographers, offers the last thing you'd expect in a book on Marilyn Monroe: new information from verifiable sources. Certainly, much of the tragedy is familiar: an abused, confused girl from an orphanage with a mother in a madhouse rises from sexual party favour for homely showbiz men to the movie superstar who pushes them around, until she crashes, a victim of self-loathing and drug addiction.
The thing about a tragedy is that its heroine isn't a victim--she's responsible for her fate. Leaming does scholarly spadework, digging up hard facts from sources like UCLA's 20th Century Fox collection and the diary-like first drafts of Arthur Miller's semi- autobiographical work, and she makes sense of Monroe's motives. She even apparently solves Monroe's suicide with clues from the star's psychiatrist's letters in the Anna Freud collection. Her last overdose may have happened just because her psychiatrist went to dinner with his wife and she felt abandoned.
But until pills killed her, Monroe wasn't a candle in the wind. She burned with ambition and knew how to craft a persona and play power games--with moguls and with the McCarthyites hounding her husband Miller. Leaming plausibly analyses the Miller- Monroe-Elia Kazan love/hate triangle, sizes up the Kennedy connection, condemns her acting coach Lee Strasberg as "chillingly mercenary," and deftly shows just how her life entangled her art, film by film. This book is a work of sharp intellect and emotional insight unclouded by lust or star worship. --Tim Appelo --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Barbara Leaming is one of America's premier biographers. With the help of Orson Welles she was the first to write a serious biography of this noted director and actor. Her other subjects include Bette Davis, Rita Hayworth, Katharine Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy. She is married and lives in Connecticut.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
The author has obviously done a great deal of research into her subject and it shows. She details Marilyn Monroe's childhood, family, relationships, friendships, marriages, career and problems with such detail you almost feel you knew her.
Read this if you are a Marilyn enthusiast or have only just become interested in learning about this remarkable woman. You may also find it a fascinating book if you are interested in films and particularly those of the 1950s.
This book provides a very satisfying read and other Marilyn biographies pale in comparison. However, although this book does not take the official cause of death at face value, mentioning the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death, it says nothing of the murder theories.
If you are interested in learning all the theories and judging the truth for yourself I suggest reading this book to learn the official version of matters and then another such as 'The Assassination of Marilyn Monroe' or 'Last Take' which give much more detail about her relationships with the Kennedys and the various alternative theories.
This book gives Marilyn Monroe the biography she deserves, exploding the myths about her supposed limited intelligence and really making her come alive.
Readers cannot help but be touched on some personal level by this book and the remarkable lady behind the name.
Read this if you are a Marilyn enthusiast or have only just become interested in learning about this remarkable woman. You may also find it a fascinating book if you are interested in films and particularly those of the 1950s.
This book provides a very satisfying read and other Marilyn biographies pale in comparison. However, although this book does not take the official cause of death at face value, mentioning the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death, it says nothing of the murder theories.
If you are interested in learning all the theories and judging the truth for yourself I suggest reading this book to learn the official version of matters and then another such as 'The Assassination of Marilyn Monroe' or 'Last Take' which give much more detail about her relationships with the Kennedys and the various alternative theories.
This book gives Marilyn Monroe the biography she deserves, exploding the myths about her supposed limited intelligence and really making her come alive.
Readers cannot help but be touched on some personal level by this book and the remarkable lady behind the name.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By A. Childs
Format:Paperback
Being an avid fan of the beloved Marilyn for many years now I have read all the books under the sun about her life, loves, career,etc. Although obviously extensively researched, this book seems to do nothing more than portray Marilyn as a hard-headed business woman who thought of no one but herself.
Unfortunately,this does not match the many biographies I have read over the years! I was left disappointed by the way her death was skimmed over. Having read Donald Wolfe's 'The Assasination of Marilyn Monroe' I expected full, factual evidence of why the author believes in the 'suicide theory'. Sadly none forthecoming! Interesting book but not for Mazzie lovers, it will make you angry!
Unfortunately,this does not match the many biographies I have read over the years! I was left disappointed by the way her death was skimmed over. Having read Donald Wolfe's 'The Assasination of Marilyn Monroe' I expected full, factual evidence of why the author believes in the 'suicide theory'. Sadly none forthecoming! Interesting book but not for Mazzie lovers, it will make you angry!
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By sophie
Format:Hardcover
What an excellent book. If you sit down for five minutes you will soon become absorbed into the world of marilyn monroe and all that surrounded her. Your eyes will not leave the pages, and by the time you have finished reading you will feel as if you are a part of this story, as a silent witness. With vivid descriptions and a great atyle of writing this book is a fantastic read for anyone with an interest in Marilyn. It is an especially good read for someone who has just started to become interested in this woman as it shows you every aspect of her life and background. A must have read for any new or old fan of this timeless icon.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
great
MM my daughter is crazy about her her room is a shrine to this lady and the book with others takes pride of place in her room pics are gorgeous
Published 2 months ago by I always tell the truth
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Find
I can not write a review for the book as I bought it for someone else. I gave the 5 stars for value and service. Will shop again soon
Published 5 months ago by Dave Kenny
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Light That Shone So Briefly
Marilyn has become such an iconic figure of the 20th century that it's easy to forget how short her glory years were. Read more
Published 15 months ago by S. B. Kelly
4.0 out of 5 stars
Marilyn Monroe
Wow. I had no idea that Marilyn had such an eventful life. :) Very interesting, recomended for anyone who loves her, or just wants to get to know her better, like i did.
Published on 15 April 2009 by Lewis Alexander Walker
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very good biography of the world's favourite blonde bombshell
This book is an amazing read, as it charts Marilyn's life very clearly with fascinating details. The more you read, the more you can't put it down, as you find out things about... Read more
Published on 7 Mar 2007 by candy perfume girl
4.0 out of 5 stars
An absorbing insight into the life of Marilyn Monroe
I have read various biographies on the life of Marilyn Monroe. This book, more than any other I have read, deals with the despair and sadness in Marilyn's life. Read more
Published on 24 Sep 2000
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