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Mutige Frauen zwischen Kunst und Liebe #8
Марлене в търсене на любовта
Двайсетте години на ХХ век. Преди сто години сърцето на Германия, Берлин, пулсира с нечуван и невиждан ритъм. Всяко кафене е сцена, всяка сцена е родно място на нови писатели и актьори, всеки актьор живее, като че ли това е последният му час. Въртят се интриги, върти се любов, Берлин се върти в бясна въртележка и ражда ново изкуство, останало до днес в златните страници на човечеството.
Берлин ражда и Синия ангел. Една никому неизвестна, интелигентна млада жена, не успяла да покори музикалните сцени с цигулка, покорява филмовите сцени със своя опушено-еротичен глас, със своя огнен темперамент и талант, с неповторимо дълбокия си поглед и не на последно място с... умопомрачителните си крака. Берлин ражда звезда и става тесен за нейните измерения. Берлин ражда Марлене Дитрих и я дава на света.
Берлин ражда и Синия ангел. Една никому неизвестна, интелигентна млада жена, не успяла да покори музикалните сцени с цигулка, покорява филмовите сцени със своя опушено-еротичен глас, със своя огнен темперамент и талант, с неповторимо дълбокия си поглед и не на последно място с... умопомрачителните си крака. Берлин ражда звезда и става тесен за нейните измерения. Берлин ражда Марлене Дитрих и я дава на света.
440 pages, Paperback
First published May 24, 2016
293 people are currently reading
4462 people want to read
About the author
C.W. Gortner
18 books2,506 followersBestselling author C.W. Gortner holds an MFA in Writing, with an emphasis in Renaissance Studies. Raised in Spain and half Spanish by birth, he currently lives in Northern California. His books have been translated in over 20 languages to date.
He welcomes readers and is always available for reader group chats. Please visit him at www.cwgortner.com for more information.
He welcomes readers and is always available for reader group chats. Please visit him at www.cwgortner.com for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 327 reviews
May 31, 2017
Marlene by C.W. Gortner is a 2016 William Morrow publication.
I will admit up front that I did not realize this was a work of fiction, at first. I was a little disappointed since I was hoping for a traditional biography, but it was my own fault for not reading the synopsis carefully.
I had not experienced this type of biographical fiction until recently, but I found it to be an intriguing way of telling a person’s life story.
This one, though, was not a factual as I would have liked, with some suggestions being so incredible, I had to do a Google search to see if it was true. The information wasn’t necessarily outright false, since there is no way to disprove or validate it, so I suppose it’s up to the reader to decide what they want to believe… or not. I do understand this is a novel, and liberties were taken, I just wish I knew what was fact and what was fiction.
Yet, it is obvious the author did his research, and not only does he know his subject, but he obviously admired her, and was true to her legacy.
Despite my misunderstanding of the book’s format, I still found myself mesmerized by the story. Marlene was quite the character, and certainly lived life on her own terms, as much as she could.
Her first -person narrative is often amusing, and I think it did capture the woman’s essence in some ways. She was bold, promiscuous, forthright, yet manipulative at times, loved to shock and offend, play games with people, and live large. But, she lived for herself, it seems, and only herself, even though she had a husband and daughter, she rarely saw or had much of a relationship with. Her feelings never seemed to run too deeply, in my opinion.
Yet, she was refreshing in that ‘what you see, is what you get’ way, and of course she absolutely defined glamour. She was a trendsetter, and 'gender bender', and was well ahead of her time. She was adored by male and female fans, alike.
Marlene Dietrich is a legend and her willingness to push the envelope puts her in a class all by herself… well almost…
No biographical accounting of Marlene’s life would be complete without mentioning the famed rivalry between Marlene and Greta Garbo, which was explained, and played up here, just as the press did at the height of their popularity and fame.
I think both actresses deserved credit, both were special and ahead of their time, but to me, Marlene was much edgier, and seemed to enjoy being that way. Her teasing and daring literally jumps out at you from the screen, and leaves a lasting impression.
The novel ends without exploring the latter years of her life, where she experienced very hard times as well as enjoying many bright spots before she became totally reclusive, struggling with addiction and ill health.
While the book just stops, in a jarringly abrupt and awkward way, I felt the author’s focus on her early life was probably a good idea, especially since it captures the atmosphere surrounding the second world war, so well, and Marlene’s staunch stand against the Nazi’s and Hitler. While she was often untouched by what was going on, due to her work schedule, she did become more attune and shunned Berlin most of her life.
Another pivitol part of her life, were her years with director von Sternberg, and it was only fitting, that some time was spent examining this relationship and the obvious impact it had on Marlene’s rise to superstar status, as well as examining the ultimate downfall of the collaboration, which also sent Marlene onto a different path career wise, so it was all very fascinating.
There were many critical insights into Marlene’s life and how she chose to live it. She is, even now, a controversial figure, but one that is remembered as one of the best actresses of all time.
I would like to find a more comprehensive biography, which will tell the whole of Marlene’s life and is written in the traditional biographical format. If anyone has a suggestion, feel free to recommend one.
It’s been years since I’ve watched one of Dietrich’s films, and I will admit, a little sheepishly, that the movies I remember her by the most are the ones she made later in her life, such as ‘Witness for the Prosecution’, and not her groundbreaking roles, like ‘Blue Angel- Lola Lola’, probably because they were more readily assessable, but this book has me thinking of doing some binge watching one day soon.
I have on occasion lamented the bygone era of such beautiful glamour, of the risk takers, and the trailblazers, and the multi-talented performers, with wide ranging depth and acting range. Marlene was all of those things, and more. All you had to do was look into those soulful eyes just once and you were under her spell.
This is certainly an interesting spin on Marlene’s life, ‘through her own words’, which was both interesting and occasionally shocking, even now.
Although, this was not the type of book I went looking for, I am glad I happened across it. It’s different, for sure, but was well done, overall.
4 stars
I will admit up front that I did not realize this was a work of fiction, at first. I was a little disappointed since I was hoping for a traditional biography, but it was my own fault for not reading the synopsis carefully.
I had not experienced this type of biographical fiction until recently, but I found it to be an intriguing way of telling a person’s life story.
This one, though, was not a factual as I would have liked, with some suggestions being so incredible, I had to do a Google search to see if it was true. The information wasn’t necessarily outright false, since there is no way to disprove or validate it, so I suppose it’s up to the reader to decide what they want to believe… or not. I do understand this is a novel, and liberties were taken, I just wish I knew what was fact and what was fiction.
Yet, it is obvious the author did his research, and not only does he know his subject, but he obviously admired her, and was true to her legacy.
Despite my misunderstanding of the book’s format, I still found myself mesmerized by the story. Marlene was quite the character, and certainly lived life on her own terms, as much as she could.
Her first -person narrative is often amusing, and I think it did capture the woman’s essence in some ways. She was bold, promiscuous, forthright, yet manipulative at times, loved to shock and offend, play games with people, and live large. But, she lived for herself, it seems, and only herself, even though she had a husband and daughter, she rarely saw or had much of a relationship with. Her feelings never seemed to run too deeply, in my opinion.
Yet, she was refreshing in that ‘what you see, is what you get’ way, and of course she absolutely defined glamour. She was a trendsetter, and 'gender bender', and was well ahead of her time. She was adored by male and female fans, alike.
Marlene Dietrich is a legend and her willingness to push the envelope puts her in a class all by herself… well almost…
No biographical accounting of Marlene’s life would be complete without mentioning the famed rivalry between Marlene and Greta Garbo, which was explained, and played up here, just as the press did at the height of their popularity and fame.
I think both actresses deserved credit, both were special and ahead of their time, but to me, Marlene was much edgier, and seemed to enjoy being that way. Her teasing and daring literally jumps out at you from the screen, and leaves a lasting impression.
The novel ends without exploring the latter years of her life, where she experienced very hard times as well as enjoying many bright spots before she became totally reclusive, struggling with addiction and ill health.
While the book just stops, in a jarringly abrupt and awkward way, I felt the author’s focus on her early life was probably a good idea, especially since it captures the atmosphere surrounding the second world war, so well, and Marlene’s staunch stand against the Nazi’s and Hitler. While she was often untouched by what was going on, due to her work schedule, she did become more attune and shunned Berlin most of her life.
Another pivitol part of her life, were her years with director von Sternberg, and it was only fitting, that some time was spent examining this relationship and the obvious impact it had on Marlene’s rise to superstar status, as well as examining the ultimate downfall of the collaboration, which also sent Marlene onto a different path career wise, so it was all very fascinating.
There were many critical insights into Marlene’s life and how she chose to live it. She is, even now, a controversial figure, but one that is remembered as one of the best actresses of all time.
I would like to find a more comprehensive biography, which will tell the whole of Marlene’s life and is written in the traditional biographical format. If anyone has a suggestion, feel free to recommend one.
It’s been years since I’ve watched one of Dietrich’s films, and I will admit, a little sheepishly, that the movies I remember her by the most are the ones she made later in her life, such as ‘Witness for the Prosecution’, and not her groundbreaking roles, like ‘Blue Angel- Lola Lola’, probably because they were more readily assessable, but this book has me thinking of doing some binge watching one day soon.
I have on occasion lamented the bygone era of such beautiful glamour, of the risk takers, and the trailblazers, and the multi-talented performers, with wide ranging depth and acting range. Marlene was all of those things, and more. All you had to do was look into those soulful eyes just once and you were under her spell.
This is certainly an interesting spin on Marlene’s life, ‘through her own words’, which was both interesting and occasionally shocking, even now.
Although, this was not the type of book I went looking for, I am glad I happened across it. It’s different, for sure, but was well done, overall.
4 stars
July 6, 2016
3.5 stars if I could , but rounded up to 4 .
I can't say that I've ever seen any of her movies , but that didn't diminish at all my interest in reading this biographical novel of Marlene Dietrich. I do remember seeing clips, seeing how beautiful she was and hearing that sultry voice . The first person narration gives this novel an almost genuine autobiographical feel. Yet, when I read a fictionalized account of a famous person, I always have that question lurking in my mind - how does the author know that this is what the person would have thought or said ? Then I think about how wonderfully creative the author was by taking the facts of Marlene's life and imagining what she was like and bringing her to life on these pages.
Introduced to the "cinematographe "by a teacher, little did she know at the time where she would ultimately be. Raised by her strict widowed mother who attempts to shape Marlene's life by forcing her to study as a violinist. It is during this time as a music student that Marlene begins her journey to become her own person. She has an affair with music teacher, goes to theaters,bars and halls. The focus then is on her relationships with men and women, a free style, unconventional life for the times and trying to establish herself as an actress.
I wanted the first half to move a little faster at times while her career was revving up and couldn't wait to get to when she comes to Hollywood. But so fascinating to watch as her career develops from singer to actress from stage to films. Finally , halfway through the book , she sets sail for Hollywood. The big names Gary Cooper , David O. Selznick, Claudette Colbert and Cary Grant ( my favorite) , and it was then that the glamour and excitement of the era came to life as well as the toughness and cut throat aspects of the film industry and the control that the studios had over the actors. The war and her personal life, her love affairs as well as her success in film are the focus of the second half.
It's a fascinating life story , for sure ,and while I'm definitely not a prude, the explicit sex scenes in my view really weren't necessary to relate Dietrich's relationships. For me the best part of the story is how she stood up to the Nazis and entertained Allied troops displaying a strength of character that I have to admit I questioned earlier. While the book ends in the mid 1940's after the war and we don't see the rest of her life , Gortner has definitely accomplished what he set out to do as noted in the Afterword , "I can only hope my admiration for her shines through, and that in a small way, I've done her spirit justice ."
Thanks to William Morrow/HarperCollins and Edelweiss.
I can't say that I've ever seen any of her movies , but that didn't diminish at all my interest in reading this biographical novel of Marlene Dietrich. I do remember seeing clips, seeing how beautiful she was and hearing that sultry voice . The first person narration gives this novel an almost genuine autobiographical feel. Yet, when I read a fictionalized account of a famous person, I always have that question lurking in my mind - how does the author know that this is what the person would have thought or said ? Then I think about how wonderfully creative the author was by taking the facts of Marlene's life and imagining what she was like and bringing her to life on these pages.
Introduced to the "cinematographe "by a teacher, little did she know at the time where she would ultimately be. Raised by her strict widowed mother who attempts to shape Marlene's life by forcing her to study as a violinist. It is during this time as a music student that Marlene begins her journey to become her own person. She has an affair with music teacher, goes to theaters,bars and halls. The focus then is on her relationships with men and women, a free style, unconventional life for the times and trying to establish herself as an actress.
I wanted the first half to move a little faster at times while her career was revving up and couldn't wait to get to when she comes to Hollywood. But so fascinating to watch as her career develops from singer to actress from stage to films. Finally , halfway through the book , she sets sail for Hollywood. The big names Gary Cooper , David O. Selznick, Claudette Colbert and Cary Grant ( my favorite) , and it was then that the glamour and excitement of the era came to life as well as the toughness and cut throat aspects of the film industry and the control that the studios had over the actors. The war and her personal life, her love affairs as well as her success in film are the focus of the second half.
It's a fascinating life story , for sure ,and while I'm definitely not a prude, the explicit sex scenes in my view really weren't necessary to relate Dietrich's relationships. For me the best part of the story is how she stood up to the Nazis and entertained Allied troops displaying a strength of character that I have to admit I questioned earlier. While the book ends in the mid 1940's after the war and we don't see the rest of her life , Gortner has definitely accomplished what he set out to do as noted in the Afterword , "I can only hope my admiration for her shines through, and that in a small way, I've done her spirit justice ."
Thanks to William Morrow/HarperCollins and Edelweiss.
June 17, 2016
When I was a young girl, my sister and I spent many weekends with my maternal grandparents. As the only grandchildren they spoiled is with a great deal, of attention and love. On Saturday evening we watched old movies, my grandfather loved the golden days of Hollywood and as a German, loved Marlene Dietrich. He always said she was a hell of a women who had lived nine lives.
The book starts when Marlene is a school girl in Berlin, living with her younger sister Liesel and her mother. Her grandmother shows and tells Marlene how beautiful she is and how this will open doors for her. She grew into a very determined woman, did things her own way, became a success in Hollywood and had indiscriminate love affairs with both men and women. Although married, with one child, Marlene generally lived life the way she wanted. Although married, a marriage that would last, both partners had other relations, often the others love interest lived with them and was accepted by both spouses. So strange, but true nonetheless. But, she was extremely loyal, supported all till the end, always aware of her responsibilities.
Golden days of Hollywood, one of my favorite parts, all the leading players and notaries of the day. John Wayne, Bette Davis, Gary Cooper, Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth as well as Hemingway and Remarque. Then of course Hitler and the war, afraid for mother and sister left in Germany. She would do more than her part in the war, going on a USO tour with Danny Thomas and what she sees will forever change her outlook, her character.
Gortner does a wonderful job showing is just how complex this woman was, how much inner strength she possessed, how much of a survivor. By books end she had earned my admiration as had the author. The author note details what happened in her life after the end of the book, and explains why he ended the book where he did. A wonderful book about an amazing woman.
ARC from publisher.
The book starts when Marlene is a school girl in Berlin, living with her younger sister Liesel and her mother. Her grandmother shows and tells Marlene how beautiful she is and how this will open doors for her. She grew into a very determined woman, did things her own way, became a success in Hollywood and had indiscriminate love affairs with both men and women. Although married, with one child, Marlene generally lived life the way she wanted. Although married, a marriage that would last, both partners had other relations, often the others love interest lived with them and was accepted by both spouses. So strange, but true nonetheless. But, she was extremely loyal, supported all till the end, always aware of her responsibilities.
Golden days of Hollywood, one of my favorite parts, all the leading players and notaries of the day. John Wayne, Bette Davis, Gary Cooper, Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth as well as Hemingway and Remarque. Then of course Hitler and the war, afraid for mother and sister left in Germany. She would do more than her part in the war, going on a USO tour with Danny Thomas and what she sees will forever change her outlook, her character.
Gortner does a wonderful job showing is just how complex this woman was, how much inner strength she possessed, how much of a survivor. By books end she had earned my admiration as had the author. The author note details what happened in her life after the end of the book, and explains why he ended the book where he did. A wonderful book about an amazing woman.
ARC from publisher.
June 7, 2016
I've been a fan of C.W. Gortner's books long before I met and befriended him at a conference, and Marlene Dietrich is perhaps my favorite of his heroines. She comes to life on the page: a swearing smoking bisexual goddess of sin. From her early days as schoolgirl violinist to her sashay through the Berlin cabarets of the 30s all the way to her meteoric rise through golden age Hollywood, she fascinates: honest enough to say she doesn't really have much in the way of acting talent; determined enough to succeed anyway; a self-made beauty whose remarkable charisma collected numberless admirers. Famous men and women parade in and out of Marlene's bed and life; she is refreshingly direct in her enjoyment of sex, and Gortner never slut-shames--he shows Marlene's tremendous gift for friendship as she remains friends with her ex-lovers and never stints to help when they are in trouble. Her unflinching stand against Nazism and her final triumph as darling of the USO tours and the American GIs is mesmerizing . . . and her final page stays with me, poignant and triumphant. Marlene Dietrich is larger than life here, and yet also very, very human.
June 4, 2016
Beware - this book does not cover Marlene Dietrich's entire life. She was born in 1901 and died in 1992. The book starts with her school years. It abruptly ends after the Second World War. It just stops! I was so surprised, I went back and checked if I had downloaded the whole book! Is there a follow up planned? I do think readers should be warned. You are left hanging without clear information, for example of her sister's fate. After the war Marlene searched for her sister. She was thought to be in Berlin. She wasn’t. She demanded help from Marlene. She and her husband had run the canteen and films at Bergen-Belsen. Collaborators or just one of the many "doing what they were told to do"?! So, too abrupt an ending and readers are not told the book only covers half of Marlene's life.
Her acting, her singing, the movies she made, her relationships with famed co-stars, directors and authors - it is all here. Her love life is covered in detail. There is a lot of sex and it is explicit. She grew up in Berlin of the 20s. The cabarets were home to her and to transvestites, lesbians and men homosexually inclined. Marlene's bisexual appetite is expounded. Marlene tells us her own story. How she felt about sex and how she used sex is a central theme. Because she had so many relationships with so many men and women, well each relationship kind of loses its force! Just another in the stack of the many. Yet we do come to understand Marlene, or at least how she probably viewed her own life. The acting profession is one of selling oneself. The reader has to be prepared for that. I felt the atmosphere of the cabaret life, of Berlin in the 20s, was well conveyed. I found the details of each of her productions a bit tedious, but understood they had to be there.
The chapters about Marlene's engagement in war efforts, her singing and entertaining of the Allied troops, were one of the best parts of the book. She made two extended tours for the United Service Organization, traveling to Algiers, Italy and Belgium. I was pulled in. She had found a cause to fight for, a cause more important than herself. She gave herself wholeheartedly, without reservation. Looking at how she behaved and how other Germans behaved and viewed themselves is interestingly explored.
There is no author's note, at least in the audio version. You are not told if the author has altered known facts. This is disappointing. I assume the author has stuck to the known facts and simply invented conversations.
The audiobook is narrated by Bernadette Dune. It is easy to follow and she uses different voices for characters of different nationalities. Her American accent is best. German is OK and French bad. "Mutti", sounded like Moody. I was totally stumped until I figured out Marlene was speaking of her mom! Heck, you do understand, so the narration is not bad.
Her acting, her singing, the movies she made, her relationships with famed co-stars, directors and authors - it is all here. Her love life is covered in detail. There is a lot of sex and it is explicit. She grew up in Berlin of the 20s. The cabarets were home to her and to transvestites, lesbians and men homosexually inclined. Marlene's bisexual appetite is expounded. Marlene tells us her own story. How she felt about sex and how she used sex is a central theme. Because she had so many relationships with so many men and women, well each relationship kind of loses its force! Just another in the stack of the many. Yet we do come to understand Marlene, or at least how she probably viewed her own life. The acting profession is one of selling oneself. The reader has to be prepared for that. I felt the atmosphere of the cabaret life, of Berlin in the 20s, was well conveyed. I found the details of each of her productions a bit tedious, but understood they had to be there.
The chapters about Marlene's engagement in war efforts, her singing and entertaining of the Allied troops, were one of the best parts of the book. She made two extended tours for the United Service Organization, traveling to Algiers, Italy and Belgium. I was pulled in. She had found a cause to fight for, a cause more important than herself. She gave herself wholeheartedly, without reservation. Looking at how she behaved and how other Germans behaved and viewed themselves is interestingly explored.
There is no author's note, at least in the audio version. You are not told if the author has altered known facts. This is disappointing. I assume the author has stuck to the known facts and simply invented conversations.
The audiobook is narrated by Bernadette Dune. It is easy to follow and she uses different voices for characters of different nationalities. Her American accent is best. German is OK and French bad. "Mutti", sounded like Moody. I was totally stumped until I figured out Marlene was speaking of her mom! Heck, you do understand, so the narration is not bad.
March 26, 2016
I won this book through Goodreads giveaway and thank you very much!
But very much a so-so read. A lot of 'tell vs. show,' and dialogue that often says too much. People don't often speak the obvious, not to close friends, family members, etc. Anyhow, when I read the dialogue aloud, it sounded artificial in places, so...
As for the novel itself, it purports to take the major events of Marlene Dietrich's life and expand on them. I'd rather read a biography, and I think - when I entered the contest - that's what I believed this was. A good, solid bio. (Though the words 'A Novel' should have been a major clue, right? Hey, I'm getting old.)
But it's as if someone took a timeline and wrote the significant events of Dietrich's life on it, then tried to connect them by writing out various scenarios to fill the spaces between.
Anyhow, not impressed, though with all the four and five star reviews, maybe I'm missing something?
No, don't think so.
But very much a so-so read. A lot of 'tell vs. show,' and dialogue that often says too much. People don't often speak the obvious, not to close friends, family members, etc. Anyhow, when I read the dialogue aloud, it sounded artificial in places, so...
As for the novel itself, it purports to take the major events of Marlene Dietrich's life and expand on them. I'd rather read a biography, and I think - when I entered the contest - that's what I believed this was. A good, solid bio. (Though the words 'A Novel' should have been a major clue, right? Hey, I'm getting old.)
But it's as if someone took a timeline and wrote the significant events of Dietrich's life on it, then tried to connect them by writing out various scenarios to fill the spaces between.
Anyhow, not impressed, though with all the four and five star reviews, maybe I'm missing something?
No, don't think so.
October 10, 2022
3/5
Apie Marleną žinojau absurdiškai mažai, bet kaip ir visos kitos stiprios istorinės asmenybės, šioji mane domino. Gortner įprastai pateikia lengvai papasakotą, bet istorinių faktų nestokojančią istoriją, tik kad šį kartą jam teko reikalas apibūdinti ne kokią karalienę laikais, kai vidutinis amžius buvo maždaug kem, o moterį, pragyvenusią cielus 90. Nors suprantu, kodėl autorius pasirinko papasakoti tik pusę jos gyvenimo istorijos, visgi man pritrūko balanso – gal apie vaikystę ir jaunystę reikėjo pasakoti mažiau? Atrodė, lyg Gortner būtų prisėdęs rašyti, įsijautęs, supratęs, kad artėja prie kokio leidėjų duoto limito ir pabaigęs vakarėlį stipriai per anksti. Būtent todėl, įtariu, knyga man rodėsi tokia paviršutiniška. Daug aiškinamųjų dialogų, iš serijos „Nagi, negi nežinai Vokietijos liaudies švietimo ir propagandos ministro Gėbelso???“, kurie nei skamba natūraliai, nei gerai atrodo literatūriškai. Ir nors literatūrinių aukštumų neieškojau, didžiausia problema ta, kad visi veikėjai tokie truputį jokie. Net pati Marlena.
Neabejoju, kad knyga patiks „Seserų Chanel“, „Ponios Kiuri“ ir panašių knygų gerbėjams. Ir tikrai jaučiuosi nemažai sužinojusi – vien Marlenos pozicija WWII karo metais yra pakankama priežastis knygą paskaityti. Tačiau negaliu pasakyti, kad patiko taip pat labai, kaip kiti Gortner kūriniai – šiam romanui mano skoniui trūko balanso, išbaigtumo ir veikėjų gelmės. O jei neišeina jos suteikti visiems, na, būtų pakakę bent šiek tiek atseikėti Marlenai. Atskiri komplimentai autoriui už nemenką Marlenos seksualinio gyvenimo vaizdavimą – turėkit omeny, jei erotinėms scenoms esat jautrūs. Tačiau į knygoje pateikiamas istorijas nežiūrėčiau kaip į griežtus faktus – kiek teko akimis permesti atsiliepimų, mažiau nemažai pasipiktinimo dėl smulkmenų ir ne tik. Ieškosiu pačios Marlene autobiografijos.
Apie Marleną žinojau absurdiškai mažai, bet kaip ir visos kitos stiprios istorinės asmenybės, šioji mane domino. Gortner įprastai pateikia lengvai papasakotą, bet istorinių faktų nestokojančią istoriją, tik kad šį kartą jam teko reikalas apibūdinti ne kokią karalienę laikais, kai vidutinis amžius buvo maždaug kem, o moterį, pragyvenusią cielus 90. Nors suprantu, kodėl autorius pasirinko papasakoti tik pusę jos gyvenimo istorijos, visgi man pritrūko balanso – gal apie vaikystę ir jaunystę reikėjo pasakoti mažiau? Atrodė, lyg Gortner būtų prisėdęs rašyti, įsijautęs, supratęs, kad artėja prie kokio leidėjų duoto limito ir pabaigęs vakarėlį stipriai per anksti. Būtent todėl, įtariu, knyga man rodėsi tokia paviršutiniška. Daug aiškinamųjų dialogų, iš serijos „Nagi, negi nežinai Vokietijos liaudies švietimo ir propagandos ministro Gėbelso???“, kurie nei skamba natūraliai, nei gerai atrodo literatūriškai. Ir nors literatūrinių aukštumų neieškojau, didžiausia problema ta, kad visi veikėjai tokie truputį jokie. Net pati Marlena.
Neabejoju, kad knyga patiks „Seserų Chanel“, „Ponios Kiuri“ ir panašių knygų gerbėjams. Ir tikrai jaučiuosi nemažai sužinojusi – vien Marlenos pozicija WWII karo metais yra pakankama priežastis knygą paskaityti. Tačiau negaliu pasakyti, kad patiko taip pat labai, kaip kiti Gortner kūriniai – šiam romanui mano skoniui trūko balanso, išbaigtumo ir veikėjų gelmės. O jei neišeina jos suteikti visiems, na, būtų pakakę bent šiek tiek atseikėti Marlenai. Atskiri komplimentai autoriui už nemenką Marlenos seksualinio gyvenimo vaizdavimą – turėkit omeny, jei erotinėms scenoms esat jautrūs. Tačiau į knygoje pateikiamas istorijas nežiūrėčiau kaip į griežtus faktus – kiek teko akimis permesti atsiliepimų, mažiau nemažai pasipiktinimo dėl smulkmenų ir ne tik. Ieškosiu pačios Marlene autobiografijos.
July 22, 2016
Marlene Dietrich wasn't an icon for me until I saw her in Destry Rides Again, and then I wanted to see all her movies. I knew that she first had success in Weimar Germany. My concept of Weimar Germany is based on The Berlin Stories: The Last of Mr Norris/Goodbye to Berlin, a short story collection by Christopher Isherwood which is best known for its musical adaptation, Cabaret. I imagined Marlene Dietrich within that environment which was so unconventional and so free. This was the Marlene Dietrich that I expected to see in Marlene by C. W. Gortner, and he met my expectations in spades. I received my copy of Marlene from Edelweiss in return for this honest review.
As I read C.W. Gortner's vision of Marlene Dietrich, I felt that she represented Weimar Germany's zeitgeist ( a German word that means the spirit of the time), and she never really became part of Hollywood. Hollywood studios tried to dictate what sort of life she led, but she carved out an existence for herself that was independent of Hollywood expectations. She always looked for ways to get around rules in order to do as she pleased.
Readers who are uncomfortable with a protagonist who has a great deal of sex with both genders should not read this book. Neither should readers who are upset by adultery. Marlene was bisexual, and had unconventional views about relationships.
I found this novel very entertaining and I would definitely read another book by C.W. Gortner.
For my complete review see http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2016/...
As I read C.W. Gortner's vision of Marlene Dietrich, I felt that she represented Weimar Germany's zeitgeist ( a German word that means the spirit of the time), and she never really became part of Hollywood. Hollywood studios tried to dictate what sort of life she led, but she carved out an existence for herself that was independent of Hollywood expectations. She always looked for ways to get around rules in order to do as she pleased.
Readers who are uncomfortable with a protagonist who has a great deal of sex with both genders should not read this book. Neither should readers who are upset by adultery. Marlene was bisexual, and had unconventional views about relationships.
I found this novel very entertaining and I would definitely read another book by C.W. Gortner.
For my complete review see http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2016/...
February 13, 2025
Nuostabi! Ir Marlena ir knyga. Man atėmė žadą ši nepaprasta moteris ir labai lengvai, įdomiai ir įtraukiančiai parašytas autobiografinis romanas apie ją ❤️❤️❤️
Read
July 18, 2017DNF.... not because it was not a good book, because it was and the writing was fantastic, but simply because of the subject matter. I thought I would be fascinated by this amazing lady but not enough to put this book ahead of some other books I've been waiting to read during the summer. Because I love this author, and he is a personal friend of mine, I will go back and read this book once I'm caught up with my highly anticipated thrillers and no doubt absolutely love it! At that point a review will follow!
May 26, 2016
Prior to reading this book, I basically knew that Marlene Dietrich was an Old Hollywood star (with absolutely stunning bone structure) who was originally from Germany - not much at all. In this book, C.W. Gortner breathes life into this woman and shows why she is still so well remembered by so many. She is a fascinating person and it easy to see why she makes such a great subject for this historical fiction.
The book is told from the perspective of Marlene. I absolutely loved being able to really step into her shoes through this book and see what she saw. Marlene does a lot of living, particularly in the earlier years of her life and it was great to see it through her eyes and to hear her explain what she was going through and what she was thinking. The book starts during her very early life as a schoolgirl in Germany so we get to know her well before she became a Hollywood siren. I loved how Gortner shows her progression from a rather shy young girl to someone who isn't afraid to put herself out there. She indulges in many pleasures throughout her young life. Her rise to Hollywood was also wonderful to read about.
I've read several of Gortner's books before and I love his way with words. He does a great job of creating very unique voices for his characters and making them incredibly memorable. By the end of the book, Marlene felt incredibly intimate to me and this book only whetted my appetite to read more about her in the future. The descriptions are a true treat for my fellow historical fiction fans!
The book is told from the perspective of Marlene. I absolutely loved being able to really step into her shoes through this book and see what she saw. Marlene does a lot of living, particularly in the earlier years of her life and it was great to see it through her eyes and to hear her explain what she was going through and what she was thinking. The book starts during her very early life as a schoolgirl in Germany so we get to know her well before she became a Hollywood siren. I loved how Gortner shows her progression from a rather shy young girl to someone who isn't afraid to put herself out there. She indulges in many pleasures throughout her young life. Her rise to Hollywood was also wonderful to read about.
I've read several of Gortner's books before and I love his way with words. He does a great job of creating very unique voices for his characters and making them incredibly memorable. By the end of the book, Marlene felt incredibly intimate to me and this book only whetted my appetite to read more about her in the future. The descriptions are a true treat for my fellow historical fiction fans!
June 6, 2016
Marlene Dietrich. Even her name seemed to perfectly typify her. And she went through a number of stages--the upper class girl / violinist turned rowdy German cabaret singer in the 20s:
To the tuxedo tragedienne, in the series of dramatically lit, set pieces in the 1930s:
Crusader against Nazism in the 40s, renouncing Hitler's offer and entertaining troops on the front lines. And 50s/60s--her comeback with a number of great films (A Foreign Affair, Witness for the Prosecution, Judgment at Nuremberg) and her discovery of Burt Bacharach and stage shows is perhaps my fave Dietrich period. She's always been an interesting mix of contradictions--her movies were generally foreign adventuress who must pay for her passion in some way, with enough subversion to wink at the whole thing--but she was also a beloved American celebrity and totally believable as a rough proprietress of a saloon hall.
Too many books waste too much ink comparing her to Garbo I think. Other than they were both foreign and beautiful with striking looks and dated some of the same people, I don't see anything more in relation to each other than say Delores Del Rio, who also lands in all the above categories. I could see a better comparison between Dietrich and Mae West. Both self-made icons, both with very distinct images (Garbo only had 1: Leave Me The Hell Alone). Both did a lot of period pictures and were best at scenarios crafted around them. Both were famous for singing and transformed their careers around that, even though neither had what you would call traditional voices. Both played with gender (look at all the rumors involving West) and you know they both spoke German and their dressing rooms were next door to each other in Paramount. If I was going to write a fictional book about Dietrich, there would be lots of gossiping between West & Dietrich who remained good friends for life.
Where was Travis Banton in this book? Mentioned once I think. Where was John Gilbert? Where was Edith Piaf? Instead we get Bette Davis trying to seduce Dietrich in order to get her to help at the Hollywood Canteen. Passages like this:
"What do I have to do to convince you?" Suddenly her short-nailed hand with its smoldering cigarette was on my knee. "I'll do anything," she crooned.
At that point I just mentally threw this book away, but kept on reading and there were a few more scenes of a desperate and sweaty Davis throwing herself at Dietrich. Now I am no Dietrich expert, I've only read 8 or so books on her and seen maybe 20 of her movies, but Bette Davis I could answer questions about all day, and the above never happened. Bette Davis was not gay and that above scene would never gone down like that, over The Hollywood Canteen, a CAUSE the women were passionate about. And it seems kind of cheap and crummy to insert sex, that demonstrably never happened, and why Bette Davis, when Dietrich has tons of other acknowledged paramours to pick from.
I blame Darwin Porter. Heck maybe Kenneth Anger is the root of this, and it's devolved to almost sleazy fanfiction. What's next? Claudette Colbert and Jimmy Durante involved in some orgy with Marie Dressler?
I think there's a really good book about Marlene that could be done. She was such an interesting woman for whom rules never really applied, that became an icon, and how painful that process is. She was at the perfect studio for her--Paramount--much like how Davis was perfect for Warner Brothers and Norma Shearer for MGM. There could have been more down with von Sternberg in this book. It has a really harsh view of their relationship--I don't think it was healthy, any more than Garbo and Stiller were but with Marlene, all of her relationships with exes was always amicable.
Found a lot of it shallow but Marlene I think is a tough person to portray, because she was so multifaceted. And I give the book credit for its depiction of Camilla Horn. She was someone whose performances I hated so much (she was terrible in The Tempest) that I never knew that she was German, much less her defiance to the Nazis as well. And what was up with all the gross smoking scenes or Marlene grinding out cigarettes on carpets? She was such a neat freak, I don't see that happening.
To the tuxedo tragedienne, in the series of dramatically lit, set pieces in the 1930s:
Crusader against Nazism in the 40s, renouncing Hitler's offer and entertaining troops on the front lines. And 50s/60s--her comeback with a number of great films (A Foreign Affair, Witness for the Prosecution, Judgment at Nuremberg) and her discovery of Burt Bacharach and stage shows is perhaps my fave Dietrich period. She's always been an interesting mix of contradictions--her movies were generally foreign adventuress who must pay for her passion in some way, with enough subversion to wink at the whole thing--but she was also a beloved American celebrity and totally believable as a rough proprietress of a saloon hall.
Too many books waste too much ink comparing her to Garbo I think. Other than they were both foreign and beautiful with striking looks and dated some of the same people, I don't see anything more in relation to each other than say Delores Del Rio, who also lands in all the above categories. I could see a better comparison between Dietrich and Mae West. Both self-made icons, both with very distinct images (Garbo only had 1: Leave Me The Hell Alone). Both did a lot of period pictures and were best at scenarios crafted around them. Both were famous for singing and transformed their careers around that, even though neither had what you would call traditional voices. Both played with gender (look at all the rumors involving West) and you know they both spoke German and their dressing rooms were next door to each other in Paramount. If I was going to write a fictional book about Dietrich, there would be lots of gossiping between West & Dietrich who remained good friends for life.
Where was Travis Banton in this book? Mentioned once I think. Where was John Gilbert? Where was Edith Piaf? Instead we get Bette Davis trying to seduce Dietrich in order to get her to help at the Hollywood Canteen. Passages like this:
"What do I have to do to convince you?" Suddenly her short-nailed hand with its smoldering cigarette was on my knee. "I'll do anything," she crooned.
At that point I just mentally threw this book away, but kept on reading and there were a few more scenes of a desperate and sweaty Davis throwing herself at Dietrich. Now I am no Dietrich expert, I've only read 8 or so books on her and seen maybe 20 of her movies, but Bette Davis I could answer questions about all day, and the above never happened. Bette Davis was not gay and that above scene would never gone down like that, over The Hollywood Canteen, a CAUSE the women were passionate about. And it seems kind of cheap and crummy to insert sex, that demonstrably never happened, and why Bette Davis, when Dietrich has tons of other acknowledged paramours to pick from.
I blame Darwin Porter. Heck maybe Kenneth Anger is the root of this, and it's devolved to almost sleazy fanfiction. What's next? Claudette Colbert and Jimmy Durante involved in some orgy with Marie Dressler?
I think there's a really good book about Marlene that could be done. She was such an interesting woman for whom rules never really applied, that became an icon, and how painful that process is. She was at the perfect studio for her--Paramount--much like how Davis was perfect for Warner Brothers and Norma Shearer for MGM. There could have been more down with von Sternberg in this book. It has a really harsh view of their relationship--I don't think it was healthy, any more than Garbo and Stiller were but with Marlene, all of her relationships with exes was always amicable.
Found a lot of it shallow but Marlene I think is a tough person to portray, because she was so multifaceted. And I give the book credit for its depiction of Camilla Horn. She was someone whose performances I hated so much (she was terrible in The Tempest) that I never knew that she was German, much less her defiance to the Nazis as well. And what was up with all the gross smoking scenes or Marlene grinding out cigarettes on carpets? She was such a neat freak, I don't see that happening.
June 10, 2016
The first thing that comes to mind as I read this book is…..what’s fact and what’s fiction? This book is marketed as a historical fiction novel but I had a hard time separating what was fact and what was fiction. Part of me doesn’t mind this sort of structure as the book didn’t read like a biography or memoir but at the same time it was hard for me to know how much of the story was fictional versus factual.
However I guess an argument could be made that this book is so well written and researched that fact and fiction seamlessly blend together. At any rate, while I was distracted at time about the fact versus fiction bit, it didn’t necessarily turn me off from the story. I loved reading about a women that I basically know nothing about. All I know is the famous name and that’s about it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of her movies either. So reading this story made her seem more like a real person to me.
There was so much attention to detail in the story, not just with Marlene’s life but her little character traits were so detailed which made her seem so much more real in this book. Gortner has an uncanny ability to portray women in such a ‘real’ fashion….it’s really an art form! I love how he brings her character to life in this book.
My only issue with the book was the story wrapped up a little too quick for me. It ends basically when she returns from Germany back to Hollywood and though it ends on a good note I just felt like there was more to be told in some ways.
This book (as with most of Gortner’s books) is very readable and engaging. If you enjoy reading about unique women not only in history but also in pop culture, I highly recommend picking up one of his books. Not to mention he always has magnificent cover designs that just make me want to read the story more! This book is no exception, even if you don’t care about Hollywood….this is more than a book about another Hollywood starlit…..this is a book about a woman’s journey!
See my full review here
However I guess an argument could be made that this book is so well written and researched that fact and fiction seamlessly blend together. At any rate, while I was distracted at time about the fact versus fiction bit, it didn’t necessarily turn me off from the story. I loved reading about a women that I basically know nothing about. All I know is the famous name and that’s about it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of her movies either. So reading this story made her seem more like a real person to me.
There was so much attention to detail in the story, not just with Marlene’s life but her little character traits were so detailed which made her seem so much more real in this book. Gortner has an uncanny ability to portray women in such a ‘real’ fashion….it’s really an art form! I love how he brings her character to life in this book.
My only issue with the book was the story wrapped up a little too quick for me. It ends basically when she returns from Germany back to Hollywood and though it ends on a good note I just felt like there was more to be told in some ways.
This book (as with most of Gortner’s books) is very readable and engaging. If you enjoy reading about unique women not only in history but also in pop culture, I highly recommend picking up one of his books. Not to mention he always has magnificent cover designs that just make me want to read the story more! This book is no exception, even if you don’t care about Hollywood….this is more than a book about another Hollywood starlit…..this is a book about a woman’s journey!
See my full review here
April 28, 2019
3,5 SterneWer eine realitätsnahe Biografie über Marlene Dietrich sucht, sollte wohl nicht zu diesem Buch greifen. Denn dieses voluminöse Buch ist viel eher ein Roman über eine junge Frau am Anfang des letzten Jahrhunderts, die aus allen Zwängen und Regeln (und davon gab es in den 20er Jahren in Berlin doch erstaunlich wenig - so eine freizügige Zeit wie damals gab es danach wohl erst wieder Ende der 60er) ausbrechen und unbedingt berühmt werden will - koste es, was es wolle. Und es kostet einiges.
Zuerst versucht Marlene ihr Glück - gezwungen von der strengen Mutter - als Geigerin. Sie ist darin nicht schlecht, aber hat nicht das Potential einmal 1. Geigerin eines berühmten Orchesters zu werden. So verlegt sie sich auf Revueauftritte, steht vereinzelt auch Model für Fotoaufnahmen, nimmt Schauspielunterricht und gelangt über die Theaterbühne schließlich zum Film.
Ich habe noch keinen einzigen Film mit Marlene Dietrich gesehen (wäre jetzt aber sehr interessiert daran, auch aus filmhistorischer Sicht), und wusste auch kaum etwas von ihr als Person. Ich wählte dieses Buch vor allem, um mehr über die ersten Jahrzehnte des vergangenen Jahrhunderts zu erfahren, um Einblicke in die Anfänge der Filmindustrie zu erhalten und schließlich auch um mehr über diese geheimnisvolle Dietrich zu erfahren. Alle meine Ansprüche wurden vollends erfüllt! Nur Fotos haben mir gefehlt, denn ich habe gern ein Bild vor Augen wenn im Buch ein bekannter Name auftaucht oder von einem Filmdreh geschrieben wird. So war ich ständig am googeln, und stieß dadurch leider auch immer wieder auf Fehler in diesem biografischen Roman. Anna May Wong war z.B. erst ab Herbst 1928 in Berlin - im Buch ist es allerdings Ende 1925 oder maximal 1926. Von Gary Cooper, mit dem sie 1930 eine Affäre hat, wird mehrmals behauptet er sei verheiratet. Ist er aber erst seit 1933 (und lernt seine Frau auch erst in dem Jahr kennen, es kann also noch nicht mal seine Verlobte gewesen sein). Als Dietrich ihn 1935 wiedertrifft ist er wohl gerade dabei sich von seiner Gattin scheiden zu lassen - das tut er aber bis zu seinem Tode nicht. Und auch Cary Grant lebte erst ab 1934 (nach seiner 1. Ehe) mit Randalph Scott in der Villa in Malibu. Im Buch schreiben wir aber das Jahr 1933. Auch in der Max Reinhard Schauspielschule war sie laut Wiki nie, sondern nahm Privatunterricht.
Das sind nur die Dinge, die mir ohne großen Rechercheaufwand aufgefallen sind. Es lässt mich aber glauben, dass es der Autor hier mit der Wahrheit nicht immer so genau nahm, und lieber eine gute Geschichte erzählen wollte nach dem Motto 'So könnte es gewesen sein'. Denn all die Gespräche und Vorkommnisse, die sich in Marlenes eigenen vier Wänden (oder Garderoben oder sonstwo außerhalb der Öffentlichkeit) abspielten - und davon handelt das Buch zum überwiegenden Teil - sind wohl größtenteils der Phantasie des Autors entsprungen und nicht überliefert oder belegt. Das sollte man beim Lesen im Hinterkopf behalten! Vielleicht ist es so gewesen, vielleicht aber auch nicht. Der Autor schreibt dazu selbst im Nachwort: "Die zentralen Ereignisse dieses Romans sind wirklich passiert, wenngleich sie durch erfundene Dialoge und Eindrücke der Protagonisten neu interpretiert wurden." D.h. die Filmdrehs, Umzug nach Hollywood und Auftritte an der Front haben ja nachweislich stattgefunden, der Rest ist a 'good guess'. Doch immerhin liest sich das Buch sehr unterhaltsam, es wird nie langweilig und einiges davon wird wohl auch stimmen.
Dem deutschen Titel (im englischen Original wurde es unter dem simplen "Marlene" veröffentlicht) wird der Roman absolut gerecht. Das Thema Liebe wird sehr groß geschrieben, und der Autor ist in seinen Schilderungen genauso wenig prüde wie Marlene Dietrich selbst mit ihrem Körper oder ihrer Lust. Sie hat nichts anbrennen lassen, und landet mit fast jedem Namen, der im Buch erwähnt wird - egal ob männlich oder weiblich - ziemlich rasch in der Kiste.
Es gibt in dieser Reihe des Aufbau-Verlags zahlreiche andere Bücher zu weiteren Frauen der Kunstszene des 20. Jahrhunderts. Aber nur dieses Buch hat mich wirklich gereizt, zu lesen, denn hier interessierte mich sowohl die geschichtliche Zeit, das Gewerbe und die Person an sich. (Einzig Coco Chanel würde ich auch spannend finden.)
Ich habe in einem Filmseminar im Studium mal beiläufig gehört, dass einzig Josef von Sternberg Marlene Dietrich "zum Star machte", mit der Art wie er sie filmen und fotografieren ließ. Da wir das Thema aber nicht vertieft hatten, wusste ich damit nicht viel anzufangen. Wie kann man jemanden dazu machen? Entweder ein Schauspieler hat Talent, und das Glück die richtigen Rollen zu erwischen, oder eben nicht. Nach diesem Roman verstehe ich viel besser was gemeint ist, und auch wie von Sternberg mit der richtigen Beleuchtung das Aussehen von Marlene so positiv beeinflussen konnte.
Was ich mich dabei aber fragte: wieso hat man nicht gleich eine perfekte Schönheit genommen? Die Romanfigur Marlene klagt ständig darüber, dass sie zu dick ist, vom Regisseur eine Diät auferlegt bekommt mit der sie sich immer wieder quälen muss, dass ihr Gesicht und ihre Nase zu breit sind und nur bei der richtigen Beleuchtung mit dem Schmetterlingsschatten unter ihrer Nase gut aussieht. Auch ihre Auftritte in den Filmen vor dem "Blauen Engel" waren "grauenvoll", wie von Sternberg ihr sagt. Wieso also die ganze Mühe wenn es sicher Dutzende anderer Schauspielerinnen gab, die von vornherein perfekt waren?
Anscheinend hatte sie das gewisse Etwas, eine Attitude (Gleichgültigkeit gepaart mit Arroganz und auch einem nicht unerheblichen Anteil an Rotznäsigkeit und Chupze), die ihr eine geheimnisvolle Aura verlieh und die Marlene Dietrich bis heute zu einer unvergessenen Ikone der Film- und auch Modewelt machen.
January 19, 2025
Toks jausmas, kad knyga neužbaigta. Nors pats autorius rašo, kad rašydamas ją susidūrė su ribota teksto apimtimi ir žinojimu, kad viso aktorės gyvenimo nesutalpins į vieną knygą, man norėjosi romano, apimančio visą Marlenos Dytrich gyvenimą. Nepaisant to, knyga labai patiko ir greitai skaitėsi (išskyrus tą knygos dalį, kurioje psakojama aktorės veikla Antrojo pasaulinio karo metais, vietomis buvo nuobodoka).
December 20, 2025
Kokia nepaprasta istorija apie Marleną❤️ Kiek daug sužinojau apie šią nepaprastą moterį, kiek jai teko patirti džiaugsmingų akimirkų ir nuopolio, bet ji vis tiek atsitiesdavo ir viską darydavo iškelta galva. Vos galėjau atsitraukti, nors vietomis man taip prailgdavo skaitomas kūrinys.
March 28, 2016
Marlene Dietrich knew everyone, and slept with half of them. A comprehensive account of Dietrich's life from her school years through her forties told in a first-person voice. Vivid descriptions of Weimar Germany's decadence and despair, "the blue angel"'s open bi-sexuality and remarkable experiences, particularly during WWII, and insights into Germany's everyday anti-Semitism and how patriotic citizens looked the other way as Hitler came to power.
January 7, 2022
Marlene traz-nos a biografia, ainda que ficcionada, de Marlene Dietrich. Narrada pela própria, mostra-nos uma mulher determinada, ambiciosa, que não deixou que nada nem ninguém se intrometesse no seu caminho.
Uma mulher livre de preconceitos, Marlene mostrou-se fervorosamente contra o regime Nazi desde o início e fundos para ajudar judeus e outros dissidentes a escapar da Alemanha de Hitler, acabando mesmo por renunciar à sua cidadania alemã.
Um livro muito bem escrito, de leitura fluída que retrata de forma maravilhosa a época, desde os cabarets alemães à glamourosa Hollywood dos anos 20/30.
Mais um trabalho incrível de C.W. Gortner, que além desta, tem outras excelentes obras sobre personagens femininas marcantes como Lucrécia Bórgia e Coco Chanel.
Uma mulher livre de preconceitos, Marlene mostrou-se fervorosamente contra o regime Nazi desde o início e fundos para ajudar judeus e outros dissidentes a escapar da Alemanha de Hitler, acabando mesmo por renunciar à sua cidadania alemã.
Um livro muito bem escrito, de leitura fluída que retrata de forma maravilhosa a época, desde os cabarets alemães à glamourosa Hollywood dos anos 20/30.
Mais um trabalho incrível de C.W. Gortner, que além desta, tem outras excelentes obras sobre personagens femininas marcantes como Lucrécia Bórgia e Coco Chanel.
December 29, 2016
Find my full review at www.luxuryreading.com.
The Golden Age of Hollywood has always held a unique fascination for me, with so much glamour and mystery surrounding the lives of the various players that just begs to be explored. Given this I had a vague idea of who Marlene Dietrich was even if I didn’t know much about her personal life. After reading and enjoying a number of books by author C.W. Gortner I did know, however, that I was in for a treat and was bound to learn a great deal in the process. What I didn’t expect was to discover such a rare and remarkable woman that is truly beyond compare.
Divided up into “scenes” or blocks of years of Marlene’s life, the reader learns her story through her own words, feelings, and actions in a manner as vibrant as if the reader was experiencing it along with her. Starting in her childhood during WWI and progressing through WWII, the reader gets a true sense of who this woman was (a determined tiger of a woman with a surprisingly big heart) and who she definitely wasn’t (someone who would sell her morals or friends for anything, even more money or celebrity status). Growing up in Germany and raised by a rigid and rule-governing mother, Marlene nevertheless broke every rule and regulation placed before her to blaze her own path into the limelight. She loved and lusted with abandon and the wild. The changeable world of Germany after WWI was the perfect backdrop for Marlene to be able to spread her wings and discover her immense talent as an entertainer.
While Marlene’s early life is fascinating, my favorites parts of the novel deal with her many years in Hollywood and her surprising (for me) turn as a USO entertainer on the front lines of WWII. There is an endless list of supporting players from the crème de la crème of Hollywood and it was an eye opener to see how many of these people entered her life – and her bed – during her lifetime. While there were aspects of Marlene at this time that were selfish, (leaving her daughter in Berlin while she started her career and then, when she was more established, making her daughter move to America even though she didn’t want to go) she also gave so much to friends and family in need, from paying all of her husband’s bills to sheltering friends who were escaping the terrors in Europe. Beyond all of that, she put her own life on the line as a USO entertainer, going to the boys that needed her special brand of entertaining most even if that meant performing next to a ditch and suffering through lice and dysentery. She did everything in her power to stay in the USO for as long as possible and had to literally be dragged away to a hospital for an infection in her jaw and severe dehydration. I have never heard of a celebrity doing something like this before, and I am now a lifelong fan of this incredible woman.
Now, being the huge history buff I am, it was also a pleasant surprise for the author to incorporate so much of the politics and gritty history happening in the greater world around the actress during this time. It truly is a singular time and place she lived in and C.W. Gortner is at his best when immersing the reader in history. His descriptions of the devastation brought about by the war and the aftermath witnessed through Marlene’s eyes are so vivid that you get a great sense of just how unbelievable it would have been, especially for this particular woman, now an American citizen returning to the home of her birth and seeing the horrors her countryman had unleashed on the world.
Marlene is an exceptional story about an unbelievable woman. She lived through two World Wars and experienced life at its highest and lowest points. If you like history or Hollywood you definitely want to read this story.
The Golden Age of Hollywood has always held a unique fascination for me, with so much glamour and mystery surrounding the lives of the various players that just begs to be explored. Given this I had a vague idea of who Marlene Dietrich was even if I didn’t know much about her personal life. After reading and enjoying a number of books by author C.W. Gortner I did know, however, that I was in for a treat and was bound to learn a great deal in the process. What I didn’t expect was to discover such a rare and remarkable woman that is truly beyond compare.
Divided up into “scenes” or blocks of years of Marlene’s life, the reader learns her story through her own words, feelings, and actions in a manner as vibrant as if the reader was experiencing it along with her. Starting in her childhood during WWI and progressing through WWII, the reader gets a true sense of who this woman was (a determined tiger of a woman with a surprisingly big heart) and who she definitely wasn’t (someone who would sell her morals or friends for anything, even more money or celebrity status). Growing up in Germany and raised by a rigid and rule-governing mother, Marlene nevertheless broke every rule and regulation placed before her to blaze her own path into the limelight. She loved and lusted with abandon and the wild. The changeable world of Germany after WWI was the perfect backdrop for Marlene to be able to spread her wings and discover her immense talent as an entertainer.
While Marlene’s early life is fascinating, my favorites parts of the novel deal with her many years in Hollywood and her surprising (for me) turn as a USO entertainer on the front lines of WWII. There is an endless list of supporting players from the crème de la crème of Hollywood and it was an eye opener to see how many of these people entered her life – and her bed – during her lifetime. While there were aspects of Marlene at this time that were selfish, (leaving her daughter in Berlin while she started her career and then, when she was more established, making her daughter move to America even though she didn’t want to go) she also gave so much to friends and family in need, from paying all of her husband’s bills to sheltering friends who were escaping the terrors in Europe. Beyond all of that, she put her own life on the line as a USO entertainer, going to the boys that needed her special brand of entertaining most even if that meant performing next to a ditch and suffering through lice and dysentery. She did everything in her power to stay in the USO for as long as possible and had to literally be dragged away to a hospital for an infection in her jaw and severe dehydration. I have never heard of a celebrity doing something like this before, and I am now a lifelong fan of this incredible woman.
Now, being the huge history buff I am, it was also a pleasant surprise for the author to incorporate so much of the politics and gritty history happening in the greater world around the actress during this time. It truly is a singular time and place she lived in and C.W. Gortner is at his best when immersing the reader in history. His descriptions of the devastation brought about by the war and the aftermath witnessed through Marlene’s eyes are so vivid that you get a great sense of just how unbelievable it would have been, especially for this particular woman, now an American citizen returning to the home of her birth and seeing the horrors her countryman had unleashed on the world.
Marlene is an exceptional story about an unbelievable woman. She lived through two World Wars and experienced life at its highest and lowest points. If you like history or Hollywood you definitely want to read this story.
May 6, 2020
Existente também em língua inglesa, este é um romance histórico acerca da actriz e cantora alemã Marlene Dietrich. Não é uma biografia.
Ao contrário do que se poderia eventualmente esperar, as suas 500 e tal páginas não fazem deste livro um calhamaço aborrecido, monótono e indigesto. Aliás, embora tenha sido forçada a fazer muitas paragens na sua leitura (por razões que são, na verdade, alheias à qualidade e dimensão de ,,Marlene und die Suche nach Liebe" [Marlene e a procura de amor]), nunca perdi "o fio à meada", o interesse na evolução da história e nos altos e baixos pelos quais Dietrich passa ao longo da sua intensa e agitada vida.
Dietrich vive as duas Guerras Mundiais. Perde o pai cedo. Tem uma vida amorosa atribulada. Não quer ser violinista como a mãe tanto desejava e tem com ela uma relação algo dificil. Experimenta o fracasso, depois o sucesso. Deixa a Alemanha e vai para os EUA, onde atinge o auge da sua carreira...
A escrita é bastante agradável e o tempo em que decorre é-me especial. O autor descreve e aborda as mudanças ocorridas na sociedade e na vida política da Alemanha com bastante detalhe, sem ser exaustivo. O resultado é um romance histórico interessante que me ficará certamente na memória, como aliás ficou, reparei agora, um outro livro que já li anteriormente do mesmo "Mademoiselle Chanel".
Gostei muito.
Ao contrário do que se poderia eventualmente esperar, as suas 500 e tal páginas não fazem deste livro um calhamaço aborrecido, monótono e indigesto. Aliás, embora tenha sido forçada a fazer muitas paragens na sua leitura (por razões que são, na verdade, alheias à qualidade e dimensão de ,,Marlene und die Suche nach Liebe" [Marlene e a procura de amor]), nunca perdi "o fio à meada", o interesse na evolução da história e nos altos e baixos pelos quais Dietrich passa ao longo da sua intensa e agitada vida.
Dietrich vive as duas Guerras Mundiais. Perde o pai cedo. Tem uma vida amorosa atribulada. Não quer ser violinista como a mãe tanto desejava e tem com ela uma relação algo dificil. Experimenta o fracasso, depois o sucesso. Deixa a Alemanha e vai para os EUA, onde atinge o auge da sua carreira...
A escrita é bastante agradável e o tempo em que decorre é-me especial. O autor descreve e aborda as mudanças ocorridas na sociedade e na vida política da Alemanha com bastante detalhe, sem ser exaustivo. O resultado é um romance histórico interessante que me ficará certamente na memória, como aliás ficou, reparei agora, um outro livro que já li anteriormente do mesmo "Mademoiselle Chanel".
Gostei muito.
December 16, 2016
Have you read any of Gortner's fabulous biographic novels? Start with this amazing (just out in paperback) story of Marlene Dietrich and glimpse the little-told story of her life behind the spotlight, from Weimar Germany to Hollywood and back again. Fascinating!
June 29, 2021
3.5 stars
Regardless, I have to thank CW Gortner for giving us such a beautiful portrait of a Golden Age bisexual icon. Happy Pride!
Regardless, I have to thank CW Gortner for giving us such a beautiful portrait of a Golden Age bisexual icon. Happy Pride!
September 21, 2023
Vis dar nesu tikra kaip iš tikro reiktų vertinti šią knygą. Žinios apie Marleną tikrai pagausėjo, nes apie ją žinojau labai mažai. Bet kaip stipriai įstrigs atminty ši asmenybė, manau, teks palaukti ateities.
Maloniai nustebino autoriaus gebėjimas įlįsti į vidinį moters pasaulį. Aktorės užsispyrimas ir savų norų siekimas tikrai sukėlė susižavėjimą.
Bet tarpais man knyga buvo kiek ištempta. Tam tikros mintys buvo kiek prieštaringos ir kiek privertė pakilnoti antakius iš nepatikėjimo.
Maloniai nustebino autoriaus gebėjimas įlįsti į vidinį moters pasaulį. Aktorės užsispyrimas ir savų norų siekimas tikrai sukėlė susižavėjimą.
Bet tarpais man knyga buvo kiek ištempta. Tam tikros mintys buvo kiek prieštaringos ir kiek privertė pakilnoti antakius iš nepatikėjimo.
April 9, 2016
I received a free copy of this book from Goodreads FirstReads in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first book by C.W. Gortner, and I really enjoyed his writing style. I didn't have a lot of background information on the main character, aside from recognizing her name as one of the famous women of old Hollywood. I don't think I've ever seen one of her films, but I did know she spend a lot of time touring in the USO during World War II. I had also heard rumors that she was bisexual and had a virtual army of Hollywood lovers. Gortner does not skirt this at all in the novel. In fact, a good bit of the book seemed dedicated to Marlene's various affairs with men and women in Europe and America.
The first third of the book covers Marlene's childhood in Germany during World War I, and her subsequent young adulthood among German cabarets and gay clubs. The second third of the book follows the development of her film career and her eventual move to Hollywood. Eventually the shadows of Hitler and World War II fall across our story, which I think did a lot to endear Marlene to me. The final third of the book follows Marlene as she tours with the USO, going to war torn Europe to help bring some entertainment to the troops, to the detriment of her own health. I found the final third of the book to be the most interesting.
After reading this novel, I'd be more than happy to try something else by the author. I think I'd also like to see a film featuring Marlene. She seems like a bad-ass woman who does what (and who) she wants - opinions of others be damned.
This was my first book by C.W. Gortner, and I really enjoyed his writing style. I didn't have a lot of background information on the main character, aside from recognizing her name as one of the famous women of old Hollywood. I don't think I've ever seen one of her films, but I did know she spend a lot of time touring in the USO during World War II. I had also heard rumors that she was bisexual and had a virtual army of Hollywood lovers. Gortner does not skirt this at all in the novel. In fact, a good bit of the book seemed dedicated to Marlene's various affairs with men and women in Europe and America.
The first third of the book covers Marlene's childhood in Germany during World War I, and her subsequent young adulthood among German cabarets and gay clubs. The second third of the book follows the development of her film career and her eventual move to Hollywood. Eventually the shadows of Hitler and World War II fall across our story, which I think did a lot to endear Marlene to me. The final third of the book follows Marlene as she tours with the USO, going to war torn Europe to help bring some entertainment to the troops, to the detriment of her own health. I found the final third of the book to be the most interesting.
After reading this novel, I'd be more than happy to try something else by the author. I think I'd also like to see a film featuring Marlene. She seems like a bad-ass woman who does what (and who) she wants - opinions of others be damned.
May 15, 2016
I have been a fan of C.W. Gortner's meticulous historical fiction since reading "The Queen's Vow" a few years ago. With this book, Gortner has left the world of the Spanish royal family and entered war-torn Germany for a look at one of Hollywood's most glamorous leading ladies.
We start with a very young Marlene Dietrich, attending private school and taking violin lessons ... and discovering her sexual orientation is not quite what she expected it to be. Throughout the book, Dietrich's relationships with men and women alike are examined through thoughtful eyes.
As Marlene gets a little older, we see her becoming a film star at a very young age ... and finding the challenges of working in both Germany and Hollywood. Dietrich's well-known anti-Nazi sentiment is shown in depth, with a clear understanding of how she came to dislike the country where she grew up as it changed radically under Hitler's regime.
Gortner never fails to do his homework, which results in pages full of rich historical detail and well-developed characters. In this book, every person mentioned actually existed; the details were gleaned from correspondence, biographies, and more.
Gortner really hits it out of the park with this one.
We start with a very young Marlene Dietrich, attending private school and taking violin lessons ... and discovering her sexual orientation is not quite what she expected it to be. Throughout the book, Dietrich's relationships with men and women alike are examined through thoughtful eyes.
As Marlene gets a little older, we see her becoming a film star at a very young age ... and finding the challenges of working in both Germany and Hollywood. Dietrich's well-known anti-Nazi sentiment is shown in depth, with a clear understanding of how she came to dislike the country where she grew up as it changed radically under Hitler's regime.
Gortner never fails to do his homework, which results in pages full of rich historical detail and well-developed characters. In this book, every person mentioned actually existed; the details were gleaned from correspondence, biographies, and more.
Gortner really hits it out of the park with this one.
May 12, 2016
Once again, C.W. Gortner has taken a fascinating woman, actress, Marlene Dietrich, and made her likable and welcoming. It is difficult to flesh out aspects of Dietrich's life when she was so guarded, gave false stories of her life, and was such a recluse later in life. Perhaps it was the Germanic tone in the dialogue scenes I'm not sure except the more I read, Marlene, the more interested in the person I became. I don't know anything about her life or film career except her later years. I am glad I read an early copy of Mr. Gortner's novel because it helped me see her as a human being and not this film persona. I have always enjoyed C.W. Gortner's writing style; especially his wicked sense of humor which definitely makes Marlene shine!
June 1, 2016
Gortner is an excellent writer. He's very good at capturing strong women, which Marlene Dietrich definitely was.
I think the book was well researched. I came across several scenes or incidents that I had read about previously. I am big on Old Hollywood.
Gortner brought Marlene alive, who was not always a very nice person, far from perfect. She has been portrayed by some as something of an Earth Mother, cooking for everyone, taking care of everyone, natural and down to earth. But I think the author caught the glamour and ego well.
I read everything this author writes so I am a little prejudiced, but the book was great. Enjoyed it very much.
I think the book was well researched. I came across several scenes or incidents that I had read about previously. I am big on Old Hollywood.
Gortner brought Marlene alive, who was not always a very nice person, far from perfect. She has been portrayed by some as something of an Earth Mother, cooking for everyone, taking care of everyone, natural and down to earth. But I think the author caught the glamour and ego well.
I read everything this author writes so I am a little prejudiced, but the book was great. Enjoyed it very much.
February 11, 2017
" Different people bring out different aspects of one personality " Quote by Trevor Dunn probably explains what I feel about Marlene Dietrich in C.W. Gortner's version. Myself, I'm not a fan of actor/actress life but I do believed C.W. Gortner can delivery his best. He did not disappointed me at all. I has learned life from the character I have never paid attention to...the author let me see the other views of the good German towards the World War II. which I have never thought about it. Marlene is one of the best of his novels which I recommended.
November 1, 2021
C. W. Gortner is a wonderful writer of historical fiction. In this book, he has captured Marlene perfectly in a way that you feel you know her. Full review you can find on my blog: https://poetryofreading.blogspot.com/...
January 10, 2025
Way too lewd. Do not recommend. 👎🏼
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