ICON: THE LIFE, TIMES, AND FILMS OF MARILYN MONROE VOLUME 1 - 1926 TO 1956

by Gary Vitacco-Robles

This is the hardback version. Goddess... Legend... Icon... You thought you knew her...but never before like this. Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962) survived a childhood marked by abuse, neglect, & chaos to become a psychological, cultural, & spiritual phenomenon of the Twentieth Century. Her remarkable life, brilliant film career, & posthumous legend have been deconstructed in over 600 biographies. Psychotherapist & author Gary Vitacco-Robles reframes & redefines the fascinating woman behind the iconic image through an analysis of her psyche and an appreciation of her film & stage performances in Volume One of this definitive biography. After a decade of meticulous research, Vitacco-Robles offers a treasure trove of facts comprehensively documenting each year of Monroe's inspiring life within the context of her tumultuous times & through her relationships with literary, entertainment, & political figures. Monroe is resurrected a half-century after her tragic death in this detailed & sensitive biography that intelligently explores her passionate desires: to be loved, become a serious actress, & have a family. Volume One examines the first thirty years of Monroe's life and her impact on the culture, providing a deeper understanding of the remarkable woman and the lasting impression she left behind. Based upon interviews, diaries, & personal files-void of sensationalism-Icon: The Life, Times, & Films of Marilyn Monroe dispels many myths & reveals the ultimate truth about Hollywood's most charismatic, beloved, & enduring star.

722 pages, Hardcover

Published March 13, 2015

Reviews

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great and comprehensive book about Marilyn’s life. It doesn’t try to be sensational or indulge in conspiracy theories. It is an incredibly detailed account of her life that provides an accurate and sympathetic exploration of the real person that Marilyn Monroe was. It is incredibly well researched, giving lots of information on Marilyn herself, as well as the people she interacted with – friends, relationships, people she worked with, etc. This ends up giving us a lot of information on film history and the historical events that took place in the early-to-mid 20th century – the Nazi regime, McCarthyism, World War 2, etc – and the people around her that were affected by these events. It also brings to light how the powerful producers and executives in Hollywood mistreated actors and actresses, and the sexism that many actresses faced in their careers – by the studios, and by the public. It addresses how Marilyn coped with and responded to this treatment.

The only negative criticism I can give is that there are some spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. Also, instead of having photos of Marilyn in the book, detailed descriptions of photos are given instead.

This is a fascinating read to anyone interested in (1) the life, works and films of Marilyn Monroe, (2) general film history, and (3) the historical events of the time she lived in. I’m definitely going to read Volume 2.