Greta Garbo: A Life Apart

by Karen Swenson

Making use of unprecedented access to materials and close associates of the late star, and complemented by rare photographs, a biography conveys new insights into the star's struggles with movie executives at MGM and her bisexuality. 25,000 first printing.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Film, Biography Memoir

640 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Helen Robare · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book!

I had heard my dad (born in 1910) talk about Greta Garbo many times, but I could never put a face to the name. He spoke with adoration that made my mom roll her eyes, so of course I had to know more. Unfortunately, we did not have Google or social media back then. When I started a job, one of my employees was also a fan of Greta Garbo and spoke about her with the same reverence that my dad had. He mentioned this book for me to read, so I went to my online used bookstore and bought it. (He was also enamored of Louise Brooks, but I will go into the books on this film star when I review the books I own about the lovely Louise.)

Back to this book...
I was hooked by the first paragraph, and that continued for the entire book. The book has several pictures, which I always enjoy in my biographies.

Greta led an interesting and baffling life. IMO, she was confused between her wants and needs, but was able to find a way to combine the two. She was a mystery up to and after her death. It is a case of "the less you know, the more you want to know" when discussing Garbo.

While she seemed sad and melancholy, Garbo came alive for the camera. She tested Louis B. Mayer and won. She had love affairs, but they did not seem to bring her happiness.

The author did not rush through Garbo's life, instead taking care to cover it thoroughly without bringing her own views into the picture.

This is probably the best written biography of a classic film star that I have ever read (and believe me I have read a LOT of them!)

[Loren · Rating 5 out of 5]

"That Greta Garbo continued her work at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, surmounting obstacles that had turned many others away, surviving one heartbreaking disappointment after another, would bear witness not only to an extraordinary talent but also to her keen will to survive and her determination not to allow her creative spirit to be broken."

--Greta Garbo: A Life Apart, p. 242

[Cynthia Bemis Abrams · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a great command of the historic facts from past biographies, Swenson added a whole new level of perspective through interviews and research. One of the few women who've written the Garbo story, Swenson lit the icon with technique and nuance.

[Hans Ostrom · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid, informative biography of Garbo, who did not say, "I want to be alone," but did say, "I want to be left alone."

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was published in the late 1990's, and there are references made to letters that will not become public until 2000, so presumably, there's a better Greta Garbo book out there waiting to be written. The author does a good job of researching her subject, and some of the best parts are quotes from other stars of the era like Myrna Loy, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Joan Crawford. Interestingly, Garbo's best known role may be the ballerina in GRAND HOTEL in which she was outshone by stenographer Crawford. That's always been my opinion, and I believe it's shared by many. There's no doubt she was a fascinating character in the pantheon of film, made more so though guarding her privacy all her life. She had a lot of stalkers, who can blame her? Still, she's not terribly sympathetic. Her film career ended with World War II, and many disliked the foreign beauty from neutral Sweden. As far as I recall, my favorite film of her's is CAMILLE. Usually, after reading a movie star biography, I'm keen to watch any films I might've missed. In this case, sad to say I'm not.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a huge book on Garbo, I'm still trying to get through it. At times I feel it's a little too detailed with things like, how much money her films made etc., but otherwise a very good book on Greta.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good biography of Greta Garbo, but too long for my tastes. Provides a lot of details regarding Garbo's personality, habits and friends, but is pretty much repetitive in those details in that, once Garbo had settled into her life style she doesn't vary much in behavior.

[Mary Narkiewicz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I like this bio the best. Written by a woman with Swedish background..so she gets it.

[Suzannah Shogren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love her, loved this book, read it long ago.