Product Description

From New York Times bestselling author J. Randy Taraborrelli comes the definitive biography of the most enduring icon in popular American culture.

When Marilyn Monroe became famous in the 1950s, the world was told that her mother was either dead or simply not a part of her life. However, that was not true. In fact, her mentally ill mother was very much present in Marilyn's world and the complex family dynamic that unfolded behind the scenes is a story that has never before been told...until now. In this groundbreaking book, Taraborrelli draws complex and sympathetic portraits of the women so influential in the actress' life, including her mother, her foster mother, and her legal guardian. He also reveals, for the first time, the shocking scope of Marilyn's own mental illness, the identity of Marilyn's father and the half-brother she never knew, and new information about her relationship with the Kennedy's-Bobby, Jack, and Pat Kennedy Lawford. Explosive, revelatory, and surprisingly moving, this is the final word on the life of one of the most fascinating and elusive icons of the 20^th Century.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2168 in Books
• Published on: 2009-08-25
• Released on: 2009-08-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 576 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780446580823
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. After half a century of Marilyn Monroe books, beginning with Maurice Zolotow's interviews of her for his 1960 biography, it's hard to imagine any revelations about the actress, but Taraborrelli—who's written bios of Grace Kelly, Diana Ross, Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra—tackles that problem with what he refers to as fresh research. For instance, thanks to files released in 2006 under the Freedom of Information Act, Taraborrelli details the truly extraordinary three-page document in which an unnamed FBI agent described the romance and sex affair between Monroe and RFK. Rather than the usual bibliographic listings, Taraborrelli cites only a few key books. Instead, he itemizes 30 pages of interviews explaining how he contacted sources close to the subject (e.g., approaching Dean Martin in a restaurant; talking with the historians he calls the true experts). In addition to interviews with everyone from Janet Leigh to Secret Service agents, Taraborrelli read the unpublished notes and interviews of reporters from the 1950s. As Taraborrelli brushes away cobwebs of myth and rumor, his remarkable research and fluid writing captures Marilyn's élan, sensitivity, desperation and despair with a haunting intimacy. (Aug. 25)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From The Washington Post
From The Washington Post's Book World/washingtonpost.com Reviewed by Jonathan Yardley A quarter-century ago, reviewing "Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe," by Anthony Summers, in this newspaper, I wondered whether, with the publication of what was the 39th book about her, "enough has at last been said about this sad story." Obviously my wonderings were very much in error. How many other books about her have been published between then and now I do not know, but here comes J. Randy Taraborrelli with what his publisher calls "the definitive biography . . . explosive, revelatory, and surprisingly moving." You will not be surprised to learn that in fact "The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe" is none of the above. Taraborrelli, a freelance journalist who specializes in gossipy fan bios of supermarket tabloid favorites -- his subjects have included Madonna, Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Ross and (of course) Jackie Kennedy -- stakes his shaky claim to originality on two aspects of Monroe's life: the three women who were central to her troubled childhood and adolescence, and the strong current of mental instability that ran through her mother's side of the family. But these matters are well known to anyone who has followed Monroe's life and career, and there is nothing "explosive" or even "revelatory" in Taraborrelli's discussion of them. Monroe continues to be the subject of books, articles, documentaries, songs and heaven knows what else 41/2 decades after her death -- she committed suicide in 1962 -- but even today she remains what she was in the final decade of her life, an enduring presence in American popular mythology. I cannot cite statistical chapter and verse, but it seems a safe bet that if you say the name Marilyn, at least four out of five adult Americans will know immediately whom you mean. Of how many others can that be said? Elvis, Jackie, Di . . . the list is remarkably short. This instant first-name recognition confers a kind of immortality, and Monroe's shows no signs of fading. Only one of the 31 movies in which she appeared has real staying power -- Billy Wilder's brilliantly acerbic "Some Like It Hot" (1959) -- yet her image, on film and in still photographs, remains to this day the American epitome of feminine beauty and sex appeal. The nude pinup for which she posed in 1949 seems positively tame today, yet it has lost none of its allure. The famous images of her face done by Andy Warhol may not be art, but they most certainly are iconography. Her marital and/or sexual connections to some of the most famous men of her day -- Joe DiMaggio, Arthur Miller, Frank Sinatra, John F. Kennedy -- are still gossiped about, puzzled over, romanticized and vilified. In short, she endures. I'm certainly not alone among Americans of a certain age in remembering exactly where I was on the day of her death. In the late afternoon of Aug. 5, 1962, I was leaving the Polo Grounds after watching the New York Mets split a doubleheader with the Cincinnati Reds when I saw, at the entrance to the 155th St. subway station, newsboys hawking tabloid extras with the news announced in big, black type. I was stunned, as obviously were all the others who crowded around to buy copies. After all she was only 36 years old -- a mere 13 years older than I was -- and recent photographs had suggested that she was at the height of her beauty. That she was dead was unbelievable and insupportable. All of which explains why I continue to read, and occasionally to review, books about her. To the best of my recollection there isn't a single good one. "Goddess" comes closest, though the prose is almost as indigestible as Taraborrelli's, which is clumsy and breathless (he has a penchant for dropping in the occasional exclamation point, almost always inappropriately). Taraborrelli's attempts at psychological analysis are either obvious or inept; his exploration of her erotic life is a mixture of sensationalism and incompetence (at one point he tells us that she "was not interested in sex," a few hundred pages later that she was a creature of passion); and his analysis of her movies never tells us anything new, much less perceptive. One reads doggedly through more than 500 pages of text and appendices hoping for some flash of insight, something to justify all the hours Taraborrelli spent cobbling this together, but not once does such a moment arrive. Someone who knows nothing about Monroe's life and legend will find the essential facts here, but no pleasure is to be derived from Taraborrelli's recital of them. She was born Norma Jeane Mortensen on June 1, 1926, in the Los Angeles General Hospital. Though her mother, Gladys Baker, had been married previously, the identity of her father was and remains unknown. Gladys was unstable (to put it charitably) and turned the child over to a woman named Ida Bolender, who loved her and wanted to adopt her, but Gladys eventually reappeared and took the child back. It was Norma Jeane's good fortune that her mother had a friend, Grace Atkinson McKee, who provided affection and guidance, but the child was made insecure and desperate for love, as she would remain for the rest of her life. People realized early on that she was uncommonly beautiful, and Grace saw possibilities for her in the movies. Of course every pretty girl in Los Angeles had the same idea, but Norma Jeane had the goods. After becoming a widely published photographer's model, she signed a contract with MGM soon after her 20th birthday, changed her name to Marilyn Monroe at the studio's insistence and began the rather uncertain progress toward the éclat she achieved thanks to the nude photo and the success of her first starring role, opposite Joseph Cotton in "Niagara" (1953). A number of her subsequent films were box-office hits, notably "The Seven Year Itch" (1955), with its celebrated raised-skirt scene, but mostly she was cast in sexy blond roles, which she resented; she was intelligent and ambitious for more serious work, though how suited for it will forever remain a mystery. She married three times, never happily, and slept with many men, though exactly how many and with how much or how little pleasure, we also never will know. She was hooked on a pharmacopoeia of drugs, and at times drank too much, a dangerous combination that did nothing to improve her deepening insecurity and mental imbalance. Taraborrelli doubtless is right (though scarcely the first) to say that the institutionalization of her mother and grandmother haunted her, just as the children and grandchildren of suicides often are haunted by the fear that the same fate awaits them. She was a decent, kind person who wanted to be loved but had execrable taste in men, too many of whom used and then abused her. Her story is inexpressibly sad, and even in the hands of one as inept as Taraborrelli it retains its power. yardleyj@washpost.com
Copyright 2009, The Washington Post. All Rights Reserved.

Review
"Readable and mesmerizing...This will probably stand as the definitive Monroe biography..."
(Library Journal (starred review) )

"As Taraborrelli brushes away cobwebs of myth and rumor, his remarkable research and fluid writing captures Marilyn's elan, sensitivity, desperation and despair with a haunting intimacy." (Publishers Weekly (starred review) )

Customer Reviews

Think you know everything about Marilyn.....


As a huge fan of MM I thought I knew just about all there was to know about this fascinating lady, but Taraborrelli proved me wrong. Using fresh research, including some files recently released by the government, the author adds more color to the affair between Marilyn and President Kennedy, info supplied by an FBI agent who was documenting the affair at the time it occurred! He also interviewed many of the main players from Marilyn's world (many no longer with us) and he was able to review unpublished notes of reporters who covered Marilyn when she was alive. Taraborrelli `s extensive research pays off with one of the most insightful books on Marilyn ever produced. The reader learns of the role Marilyn's mother actually played in her life; I won't give anything away but it is much more extensive than the public ever knew. I was also shocked to learn of the depth of Marilyn's mental problems, I mean any one familiar with her life story knows she had issues, but I never suspected how sick she truly was. This is not just a rehash of old material and I highly recommend it to all interested in this icon's story. For more fascinating Marilyn Monroe reading, do check out "Misfits Country" Marilyn brought to life during the filming of her final movie.

Almost a 5-Star Bio of Marilyn
This is a detailed, fairly complex biography of Marilyn Monroe. I may not necessarily agree 100% with the conclusions that author reached, particularly towards the end of Marilyn's life, but there is a lot of interesting, intriguing information in this new biography. As an avid, avid fan of Miss Monroe, I have read just about every biography there is (that I know of!--I have over 75 books about MM as of my last count), as well as of other significant players in her life. So the idea of a new, comprehensive biography is something that I always look forward to.

The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe is extremely well written and researched, and gives the reader a new appreciation of Marilyn--particularly as relates to her early life and the events that helped shape her personality. The analysis of Marilyn's early life as Norma Jean Baker is perhaps the best overall assessment I have read yet. The author has taken time to put into perspective her early relationships with her foster families and relatives involved in her upbringing. The sad story of Norma Jean's mother, Gladys, is related in poignant detail throughout the book. The overall premise that Norma Jean/Marilyn was descending into the same schizo-paranoid type personality towards the end of her short life is the basis for many of the author's conclusions about MM. After reading about Marilyn's early life (Norma Jean) up to the point where she divorced Jim Dougherty, you truly get a sense of the uncertainty and insecurity of a girl who was shuffled from home to home and who was searching for family caring and love. Stories related in other biographies, particularly of childhood molestation, are pretty well put to rest according to author Taraborelli. Norma Jean's transition into Marilyn Monroe is plausible and well-covered, including a sympathetic look at MM's relationship with agent Johnny Hyde.

Where I run into a sense of frustration with this book is at the point in Marilyn's life where she begins to date Joe DiMaggio. Indeed, the major events of their lives together, and subsequently her relationship with Arthur Miller, are chronicled, but at this point there seemed to be a bit of a loss of direction regarding the relationships of Marilyn and her second and third husbands. The chemistry between MM and Joltin' Joe is well defined; their later relationship especially after he rescued her from Payne Whitney, less so. The early romance with Arthur Miller is well-done; the disconnect between him and Marilyn after she found his journal notes is poignant. Less informative is information regarding the end of their marriage and divorce.

Marilyn is described in the early 1960's as either quite charming and lucid, or totally drugged and 'out of it.' The same witty, attractive and clever woman who could charm JFK or his brother Robert seems to bounce back and forth almost daily as being between being lovely and clear -- or deranged and delusional, depending on the drugs she is deemed to be taking. This poses a problem in this reader's mind, as it seems a bit unlikely that both personas could be present depending on the circumstances. It also is interesting to note that, in her mid 30's, Marilyn was more beautiful and sexy than ever, and the many thousands of photos from various photographers, such as Bert Stern, or outtakes from Something's Got to Give, show this. After all, the camera doesn't lie--even for Marilyn Monroe. Sure, she had approval of her photos and it's certainly true that not every shot was spectacular, but in a series of photos shot at the same time there are always great shots and so-so/bad ones. Her look, during this time, was trimmer and even lovelier than she was 10 years before.

The Cal-Neva lodge incident is detailed far more clearly and cleanly than in any other bio of MM that comes to mind. Indeed, the relationship of friendship between MM and Pat and Peter Lawford makes sense, at last. The apparent great friendship between MM and Pat Lawford is given great credence here.

Perhaps there is no way to have a 'definitive last word' about the events in MM's life. This book unequivocally states that Marilyn met John F. Kennedy in 1962. Other books, also seemingly well researched, put their relationship as beginning much earlier. Another current book, In the President's Secret Service, clearly states that MM and JFK had an ongoing affair and met many times in many places in New York City.

The eternal question about Marilyn's death (suicide or murder) is not clearly resolved, although the author indicates that he believes it was by a likely unintentional overdose of drugs. That said, the timelines which have been offered over the bios of the last 25 years do not really mesh with this conclusion, especially regarding the time of death and the chaos at MM's house in the hours after her death was known.

Little things, like whether Eunice Murray actually lived with MM (in this book it is stated she did--in some other well-researched books it is indicated that the only night she EVER spent at MM's Brentwood home was on August 4, 1962), lack of mention of some major players in Marilyn's life (Arthur Jacobs comes to mind) and a brusque sentence in which all the angst of Marilyn's firing by Fox over Something's Got to Give is resolved in a statement to the effect that suddenly MM had a brand new $1 million contract with Fox and the movie was going to be finished after all--with absolutely no detail as to how this came about -- left me feeling a bit uncertain and wondering about the information available on issues like these.

Overall, this is by far one of the better biographies of Marilyn Monroe to come out in awhile. Definitely worth a read for the MM fan, and for the movie fan who wants to try and understand a bit more about the mystique of the one and only Miss Marilyn Monroe.

Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe
I too am a huge Marilyn Monroe fan and have read every known book about her or those close to her that I could possibly dredge up. This is a good read and does have some new information. The author did find the one area about Marilyn nobody has paid enough attn to, her mother. Pretty heartbreaking. How Marilyn remained patient and loving towards Gladys as long as she did is beyond me. I did find irritating errors in the book tho. Gladys received in Marilyn s will $5000 per year, not $5000 per month. Paula Strassberg was paid $2500 a week to coach Marilyn for The Prince and the Showgirl, not $25,000 per week. It makes you wonder what else he got wrong!

I dont know what to make of the mental illness theme running thru the book.
To me the author kept trying to find cause and effect and I hope Marilyn s mental problems werent really to the degree suggested, altho I think borderline personality is accurate, schizophrenia, may be stretching it.

Marilyn s half sister, Bernice Miracle s book, My sister Marilyn was heavily sourced for background. The one thing I dont get is in that book Bernice said Marilyn met her father towards the end of her life. Why didnt the author discuss this and also try interviews with either Berniece or Mona Miracle on the subject? The author implies that Stan Gifford was the biological father but states in the book that Stans son vehemently denies this.The author doesnt exlain this at all. The author also actually at one point got confused as to possible fathers, including Jap Baker among the candidates. This was Bernice s father and long out of the picture when Marilyn was conceived. It would seem to me the 2 likliest candidates are either Stan Gifford or Edward Mortensen. Both lived to old age and were in and out of hospitals towards the end of their lives, Im surpised no one has tried to find blood types of all or DNA to put it to rest once and for all. Finally, it seems to me no author has tried hard enough in getting Patricia Newcomb to spill the beans as to exactly what happened the night of Aug 4th 1962, shes the last one still alive that has direct knowledge I believe.

Having said all that, its still a good book worth the read for sure and its refreshing the author stayed away from sensationlism regarding the Kennedys, it was a 1 night stand with 1 brother..............which is more or less what I all along thought.