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The Ghost of Grey Gardens: Lois Wright's Life Story: The True Story of an Improbable Person
In the early 1970s, two young filmmaking brothers unloaded their camera and recording equipment on the collapsing front porch of a dilapidated manor in East Hampton. The seemingly abandoned, decaying shell of a once-glorious home belonged to Edith Bouvier Beale. She and her daughter Edie Beale were the aunt and first cousin of former First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Lois Erdmann Wright was one of only a handful of outsiders allowed into Grey Gardens. During the decades before the documentary, Lois and her mother had formed a close, family-like bond with the Bouvier-Beale women, and Lois learned to overlook the destruction and disarray of the home.
For many years, the Beales lived alone in the crumbling estate, physically and financially unable to keep the house up to the codes demanded by the local Board of Health.
Lois understood the Beale family. The two Edies were outsiders, trying to eke out a reclusive existence among their haughty, East Hampton neighbors. Surrounded by dozens of cats, raccoons, and piles of trash, Lois found acceptance, security, and unconditional love in the company of Grey Gardens’ unlikely inhabitants.
She never questioned her dear friends’ lives, and they never questioned Lois. Much like the Beale ladies, and the mysterious mansion disintegrating around them, Lois held onto her own secrets, including one impossible rumor that connected her to the Bouvier-Beales in a way she never expected, and would never forget.
Nearly a half-century later, the worldwide appeal and fascination with Grey Gardens hasn't dampened. The story has been recreated as a Tony Award winning Broadway musical, as well as a feature length film, and a second documentary.
Now, Lois Wright, the “Ghost of Grey Gardens,” tells the truth embedded in the cult-classic fable. For the first time ever, Lois recounts her ninety years of life, including the perfectly-imperfect years she spend with the Beales. Featuring never before seen personal photos, documents, and letters, and revealing jaw-dropping facts, this book is a must read for any Grey Gardens fan.
Lois Erdmann Wright was one of only a handful of outsiders allowed into Grey Gardens. During the decades before the documentary, Lois and her mother had formed a close, family-like bond with the Bouvier-Beale women, and Lois learned to overlook the destruction and disarray of the home.
For many years, the Beales lived alone in the crumbling estate, physically and financially unable to keep the house up to the codes demanded by the local Board of Health.
Lois understood the Beale family. The two Edies were outsiders, trying to eke out a reclusive existence among their haughty, East Hampton neighbors. Surrounded by dozens of cats, raccoons, and piles of trash, Lois found acceptance, security, and unconditional love in the company of Grey Gardens’ unlikely inhabitants.
She never questioned her dear friends’ lives, and they never questioned Lois. Much like the Beale ladies, and the mysterious mansion disintegrating around them, Lois held onto her own secrets, including one impossible rumor that connected her to the Bouvier-Beales in a way she never expected, and would never forget.
Nearly a half-century later, the worldwide appeal and fascination with Grey Gardens hasn't dampened. The story has been recreated as a Tony Award winning Broadway musical, as well as a feature length film, and a second documentary.
Now, Lois Wright, the “Ghost of Grey Gardens,” tells the truth embedded in the cult-classic fable. For the first time ever, Lois recounts her ninety years of life, including the perfectly-imperfect years she spend with the Beales. Featuring never before seen personal photos, documents, and letters, and revealing jaw-dropping facts, this book is a must read for any Grey Gardens fan.
- GenresBiography
223 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 25, 2019
102 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Lois Wright
7 books3 followersLois Wright (July 9, 1928 – October 13, 2023) was an American artist, author, and television personality. She was best known for her appearance in the 1975 independent documentary film Grey Gardens by Albert and David Maysles.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 7, 2022
She didn’t mind being a ghost, as she had come to think of herself. She seemed to be in the background at Grey Gardens, in the film and in real life. No one knew she was there, and no one cared to look for her.
For decades, an eccentric mother/daughter duo captivated the attention and imagination of the world. Voluntarily confined to their deteriorating twenty-eight room mansion in East Hampton, New York, Edith Bouvier Beale (paternal aunt of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis) and daughter Edie Beale lived a reclusive existence that was detailed in numerous documentaries, films, books, and even an award-winning musical. Theirs was a complex life with only a few allowed to enter it. One of those few was Lois Erdmann Wright and her story spans over ninety years.
This review may seem a little cold-hearted and harsh and should by no means be a reflection on Lois Wright personally or the life that she led and continues to do so (she will celebrate her 94th birthday in July 2022 and I wish her all the best). Every life is precious, but not every life is worthy of a book. This is one of those instances.
Lois Wright led a remarkable life, but to describe it as “improbable”—as she does so on the book’s cover—may be a bit of a stretch. She was a palmist, painter, and TV personality born into a well-off family that was loving and supportive. Her mother became friends with Edith Beale and so it was natural for the women’s daughters (Edie and Lois) to become tight as well. Their friendship was more like family and lasted decades. The Beale women hobnobbed with the best that society had to offer, but their status received an unexpected bounce when Jacqueline not only married the handsome John Kennedy, but became First Lady when her husband was elected the 35th President of the United States. Although Lois exhaustively described herself as “shy” and “introverted”, the added glare of the spotlight and its effects were surely not lost on her. While reading this book, I was reminded numerous times of the quote, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”
Out of all the media pertaining to Grey Gardens, only two were exclusively about Lois Wright: My Life at Grey Gardens: 13 Months and Beyond and The Ghost of Grey Gardens: Lois Wright’s Life Story. Both were written (or co-written) by Wright herself and both were independently published. Why? Simply—and respectfully—put, Lois Wright is NOT the story. She is merely a woman who knew two women who were related to a woman who married a man who later became president. No matter what Lois Wright accomplished or regardless of her maybe/possible/perhaps lineage that she professes in the book, the simple fact is that her life, no matter how interesting, is not what captivated the curiosity of the world.
Another problem I had with the book is the layout and the occasional sloppy editing. Hagan does thank her editor for her “speedy and accurate work” although I’m not sure about accurate and perhaps a little less speedy might have been helpful. There are tons of photos that Wright provides for this book (several being the same photo just taken at a different angle) that are placed haphazardly amongst the text and having little or nothing to do with the subject at hand. There are photos of people that we haven’t been introduced to yet along with a confusing image of Wright’s driver’s license and a copy of a certified mail receipt from a letter sent to Jacqueline Onassis. If these last two are the “never-before-seen documents” mentioned in the synopsis, maybe there’s a good reason that they remained unseen. Also, if you are going to include the names of your more famous clientele, it’s important to ensure that their names are spelled correctly. Liza Manelli (sic) and Mathew (sic) Broderick would probably appreciate it.
Lois Wright seems like an interesting woman, but she clearly is a woman full of contradictions: she complained of loneliness, but was determined not to marry or truly devote herself to a relationship; she claimed to be devoted to family, but moved away from her severely ailing brother after less than a month away from home; and she asserted time and time again of loathing attention while bemoaning her absence in one documentary while celebrating her inclusion in another. In the words of Salman Rushdie, “Now I know what a ghost is. Unfinished business, that’s what.” If Lois Wright does indeed consider herself to be the ghost of Grey Gardens, I hope that this book will finally put her business to rest and that whatever she is seeking—relevance, notoriety, validation, or peace—is eventually found.
For decades, an eccentric mother/daughter duo captivated the attention and imagination of the world. Voluntarily confined to their deteriorating twenty-eight room mansion in East Hampton, New York, Edith Bouvier Beale (paternal aunt of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis) and daughter Edie Beale lived a reclusive existence that was detailed in numerous documentaries, films, books, and even an award-winning musical. Theirs was a complex life with only a few allowed to enter it. One of those few was Lois Erdmann Wright and her story spans over ninety years.
This review may seem a little cold-hearted and harsh and should by no means be a reflection on Lois Wright personally or the life that she led and continues to do so (she will celebrate her 94th birthday in July 2022 and I wish her all the best). Every life is precious, but not every life is worthy of a book. This is one of those instances.
Lois Wright led a remarkable life, but to describe it as “improbable”—as she does so on the book’s cover—may be a bit of a stretch. She was a palmist, painter, and TV personality born into a well-off family that was loving and supportive. Her mother became friends with Edith Beale and so it was natural for the women’s daughters (Edie and Lois) to become tight as well. Their friendship was more like family and lasted decades. The Beale women hobnobbed with the best that society had to offer, but their status received an unexpected bounce when Jacqueline not only married the handsome John Kennedy, but became First Lady when her husband was elected the 35th President of the United States. Although Lois exhaustively described herself as “shy” and “introverted”, the added glare of the spotlight and its effects were surely not lost on her. While reading this book, I was reminded numerous times of the quote, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”
Out of all the media pertaining to Grey Gardens, only two were exclusively about Lois Wright: My Life at Grey Gardens: 13 Months and Beyond and The Ghost of Grey Gardens: Lois Wright’s Life Story. Both were written (or co-written) by Wright herself and both were independently published. Why? Simply—and respectfully—put, Lois Wright is NOT the story. She is merely a woman who knew two women who were related to a woman who married a man who later became president. No matter what Lois Wright accomplished or regardless of her maybe/possible/perhaps lineage that she professes in the book, the simple fact is that her life, no matter how interesting, is not what captivated the curiosity of the world.
Another problem I had with the book is the layout and the occasional sloppy editing. Hagan does thank her editor for her “speedy and accurate work” although I’m not sure about accurate and perhaps a little less speedy might have been helpful. There are tons of photos that Wright provides for this book (several being the same photo just taken at a different angle) that are placed haphazardly amongst the text and having little or nothing to do with the subject at hand. There are photos of people that we haven’t been introduced to yet along with a confusing image of Wright’s driver’s license and a copy of a certified mail receipt from a letter sent to Jacqueline Onassis. If these last two are the “never-before-seen documents” mentioned in the synopsis, maybe there’s a good reason that they remained unseen. Also, if you are going to include the names of your more famous clientele, it’s important to ensure that their names are spelled correctly. Liza Manelli (sic) and Mathew (sic) Broderick would probably appreciate it.
Lois Wright seems like an interesting woman, but she clearly is a woman full of contradictions: she complained of loneliness, but was determined not to marry or truly devote herself to a relationship; she claimed to be devoted to family, but moved away from her severely ailing brother after less than a month away from home; and she asserted time and time again of loathing attention while bemoaning her absence in one documentary while celebrating her inclusion in another. In the words of Salman Rushdie, “Now I know what a ghost is. Unfinished business, that’s what.” If Lois Wright does indeed consider herself to be the ghost of Grey Gardens, I hope that this book will finally put her business to rest and that whatever she is seeking—relevance, notoriety, validation, or peace—is eventually found.
September 12, 2024
I have been looking forward to this book since Tania first told me about it. Something inside me told me that I had to read it. I’m so glad I did!
Lois is a remarkable women, who is stronger then anyone I know. Her life was full of ups and downs and tragedy, but her upbeat personality kept her going. I love her compassion for art and beauty, her strong love of her family and friends. I admire her ability to read palms and I envy her reading some of the big Stars of Hollywood. I feel like I’ve gotten to know her so well through this book and I feel if things were right, we would be good friends.
The historical events throughout her years was fantastic. Being born in 1960, I remember Kennedy being assassinated , I remember how lovely and beautiful Jacqueline always looked. The years of events had me thinking of my age then and what was happening in my life along with Lois. I felt connected to her in a way.
Tania, thank you for adding the photos. It brought so much more realism to the story and besides, I love looking at old photos, it was great. And last but not least, I absolutely loved the acknowledgements, they are so full of love and come from deep in Lois and Tania’s heart.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who knows the Beales , Lois or just like true history and memories.
Lois is a remarkable women, who is stronger then anyone I know. Her life was full of ups and downs and tragedy, but her upbeat personality kept her going. I love her compassion for art and beauty, her strong love of her family and friends. I admire her ability to read palms and I envy her reading some of the big Stars of Hollywood. I feel like I’ve gotten to know her so well through this book and I feel if things were right, we would be good friends.
The historical events throughout her years was fantastic. Being born in 1960, I remember Kennedy being assassinated , I remember how lovely and beautiful Jacqueline always looked. The years of events had me thinking of my age then and what was happening in my life along with Lois. I felt connected to her in a way.
Tania, thank you for adding the photos. It brought so much more realism to the story and besides, I love looking at old photos, it was great. And last but not least, I absolutely loved the acknowledgements, they are so full of love and come from deep in Lois and Tania’s heart.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who knows the Beales , Lois or just like true history and memories.
September 22, 2019
Though I am not an avid reader of non-fiction, and I know next to nothing about the Grey Gardens or Lois Wright, I was drawn into this account of Lois' life, and the way she navigated personal turmoil, social and political upheaval, and familial tragedy.
I particularly enjoyed the many, many, illustrations and inserts throughout the book, most of which were from Ms. Wright's personal collection. They added life and color to what might have been a run-of-the-mill biography.
I honestly don't understand all the negativity for this book. Ms. Wright's story was told with compassion and reverence, and with Ms. Wright's permission and blessing. It would seem to be as true an account of what happened as one is likely to find. The number of hours it must have taken, the painstaking detail of putting another person's entire life on paper, is evident. This has clearly been a labor of love for Ms. Hagan, and for that I respect the heck out of her for seeing it through to the end.
I particularly enjoyed the many, many, illustrations and inserts throughout the book, most of which were from Ms. Wright's personal collection. They added life and color to what might have been a run-of-the-mill biography.
I honestly don't understand all the negativity for this book. Ms. Wright's story was told with compassion and reverence, and with Ms. Wright's permission and blessing. It would seem to be as true an account of what happened as one is likely to find. The number of hours it must have taken, the painstaking detail of putting another person's entire life on paper, is evident. This has clearly been a labor of love for Ms. Hagan, and for that I respect the heck out of her for seeing it through to the end.
August 5, 2019
Ghost of Grey Gardens
Wonderful! Wonderful! I loved it. It’s so exciting to to read and visualize the life of this woman. I’ve always enjoyed this author and was excited to learn she had co authored the amazing life of Lois Wright and her connection to Grey Gardens.
Wonderful! Wonderful! I loved it. It’s so exciting to to read and visualize the life of this woman. I’ve always enjoyed this author and was excited to learn she had co authored the amazing life of Lois Wright and her connection to Grey Gardens.
August 14, 2019
Fantastic read and insight into a wonderful group of women!
I loved this book as it allows the reader a look into the life of Lois wright as well as her relationship with the beales of grey gardens
I loved this book as it allows the reader a look into the life of Lois wright as well as her relationship with the beales of grey gardens
January 18, 2020
I've never had an interest in Lois Wright, but being a Grey Gardens enthusiast for decades and an aficionado of Tania Hagan, I decided to read "The Ghost of Grey Gardens."
Ms. Hagan actually made Lois a likeable character and I learned quite a bit.
A must for any Grey Gardens connoisseur!
Ms. Hagan actually made Lois a likeable character and I learned quite a bit.
A must for any Grey Gardens connoisseur!
August 13, 2019
GREY GARDEN FANS....A MUST READ
GREY GARDEN AND THE Beales. Anyone who follows this subject must read this great book. Fun and insightful into an amazing time in our history.
GREY GARDEN AND THE Beales. Anyone who follows this subject must read this great book. Fun and insightful into an amazing time in our history.
August 21, 2019
Great book - felt like I got an inside look at the Beale's life. Highly recommend if you are a fan of Grey Gardens!
August 30, 2019
What's more interesting about this book is the talk about its birth.
June 14, 2020
Lois is an interesting woman, with or without the Beales!
May 4, 2020
Like grey gardens?
There is a character or rather a person named Lois. This book gives a delightful description of Lois. it includes her relationship with the Beales and her interaction with the people of East Hamoton. It's a great tale of an unusual life.
There is a character or rather a person named Lois. This book gives a delightful description of Lois. it includes her relationship with the Beales and her interaction with the people of East Hamoton. It's a great tale of an unusual life.
October 7, 2020
Great inside life of the two Edies. Reads Luke a diary
June 25, 2021
horrible! unless you want to read a book about Lois and her brother
August 28, 2019
The subject of this book, Lois Wright is a fixture in East Hampton NY. Lois found notoriety as dear and close family friend of the Beale family, and has written a book of her own, about her stay at Grey Gardens. It's a fan favorite! This book however, falls short of expectation. It doesn't tell Lois's life story, and and attempts to create a story. Readers were promised "jaw dropping. Revelations" that were silly and lacked any real facts or explanations. I was left unimpressed and disappointed. I was expecting something entirely different. I don't recommend this .book,,there are far better books on Grey Gardens by far.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews