Marilyn Monroe : Private and Undisclosed

by Michelle Morgan

This valuable new biography, by the President of the UK fan club, contains the fullest ever collection of primary source material on Marilyn Monroe, covering all stages of her life. It includes over 70 fine-reproduction rare and unpublished photographs. The photographs show Marilyn's real world, the world away from the fans, the studio heads and general public. They reveal a different side of Marilyn from the celluloid invention - relaxing at home, living her everyday life. They include locations from the various stages of her life - the schools she attended as Norma Jeane, the ballroom where she danced with first husband Jim Dougherty; the street where Marilyn claimed she was attacked by an intruder; and candid shots of her on the sets of films. Michelle Morgan has also interviewed every single person accessible who knew or was related to Marilyn in any way, including the main players in her life - family and friends, as well as work colleagues, and more casual acquaintances. More than 50 interviewees are featured, many never put on the record before, including a large number from her orphaned childhood and early years - details of which until now have remained mysterious and patchy. Documentary sources range from the private testimony of her gaenocologist, to the previously undisclosed Laurence Olivier papers relating to Marilyn's time in England. Following a series of sensationalist biographies of the Marilyn Monroe in recent years, this comprehensive, meticulously researched volume brings an important fresh perspective to the many controversies in her life, and will serve as an essential sourcebook of documentary and photographic evidence.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Audiobook, Celebrity, M M Romance, Media Tie In

312 pages, Hardcover

First published May 17, 2012

About the author

Michelle Morgan is the author of The Ice Cream Blonde, The Mammoth Book of Hollywood Scandals, Marilyn's Addresses, and Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed. She has been interviewed on dozens of radio stations and featured on many television programs, including the BBC National News.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

1st BOOK OF THE YEAR!

You'll know I love Marilyn Monroe. I've read more books and seen more movies about her than I can count. I've been obsessed with her since I was 10 years old.

I thought I knew everything about her but than I read this book and I learned so many new things. This book is relatively small for a biography but its filled with so much great information.

And there's a really great reason why.

The author Michelle Morgan is the president of Marilyn Monroe's UK fan club Marilyn Lives Society. So this book is written from a place of love. Morgan doesn't spend much time on the more salacious aspects of Marilyn's life. Instead she uses the stories of Marilyn's real friends to tell the story of Marilyn the woman not the icon.

I loved this book! It made me feel like I got to know a side of Marilyn that not everyone knew.

I highly recommend this book to all my fellow Marilyn stans and to those who just wanna get to know her.

[Merja Pohjola · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? Meticulous research, that clearly tries to show Marilyn - the HUMAN being, with her flaws and good points, neither of them exaggerated. The most trustworthy as biographies go. The fact that there are just a few tiny little details I don't personally agree with doesn't mean a thing, because they are all just matters of opinion and as such, if I were to agree 100 % I would have to write a book of my own, and nobody would agree 100 % with that ;-) So agreeing 99 % with a Marilyn book is amazing to me. Michelle has studied this for YEARS; by far longer than "the ordinary biographer" who just writes bios for "money" (sorry, but there are those who do and they take the easy way out - build an agenda and follow it - Michelle Morgan presents both or all sides of the aspects of Marilyn's life and let's the reader choose what they want to believe on things that cannot be established.) That said, this book is HONEST, it is not written for those fans who want to put Marilyn on a pedestal; it is not (goes without saying) out there to make money off of her (usually by believing all the stupid rumors)... it is there to help us getting as close to our "subject" as possible, and Michelle's interviews and research covers a LOT of new ground, never stepped on before. I would recommend her book to ANYONE interested in Marilyn, from beginners to those who have studied her longer, because if truth is what you want to find, her book is the closest you can get to it - written with love, but not blind adoration, respect by the most trustworthy and honest Marilyn biographer to date. If you want to get just one biography on Marilyn - this is it.

[Sidney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute must for all MM fans. Great rare pictures and stories!!!

[Joey Traughber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not much of a book reviewer. But,
I can say that I truly love this book!
Michelle Morgan did some wonderful research
for this! I highly recommend this book!

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Много тъжна история! Поплаках си на някои места, а накрая даже и буца имаше в гърлото ми. Мерилин Монро е била прекрасен човек - винаги усмихната, добра с хората, земна. И въпреки, че е пленявала хората, около себе си със своя чар е била и страшно самотна. Самота, породена от липсата и на двамата родители в живота ѝ. За мен това е причината живота ѝ да се стече по този начин. И въпреки, че е обичана, ценена и уважавана от мнозина, няма как като не си получил любов от родителите си, не са те научили как да обичаш, да разпознаеш любовта, дадена ти от някой друг!

"Винаги се чувствах несигурна и излишна, но най-вече уплашена. Предполагам, че исках любов повече от всичко друго на света."

И въпреки официалната версия за нейната смърт, аз не вярвам в това. Няма как, човек, който е решил да започне живота си отначало, който е решил на всяка цена да има дете (най-великата сила на света), и който след месец е трябвало да осинови дете, да посегне на живота си. Просто няма как!

"Само защото си се провалила веднъж, не означава, че ще се проваляш във всичко. Продължавай да опитваш, дръж се, и винаги, винаги, винаги вярвай в себе си, защото ако ти не вярваш, тогава кой би вярвал? Затова дръж главата си изправена, вдигни брадичката и най-важното, продължавай да се усмихваш, защото животът е нещо красиво и има толкова много причини да се усмихваш.“

"Всеки е звезда и заслужава правото да блести."

[Milena Tseneva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Не знам как точно да започна това ревю. Прочетох книгата преди повече от седмица и още не смея да разкажа за нея. Да не споменавам, че от дълго време се възхищавам на образа на Мерилин Монро и някак все отлагах момента да разлистя страниците на биографията й.

Ако човек напише „Мерилин Монро“ в Google на английски език, в миг излизат над 3,300,000 резултата… Името й винаги е звънтяло в ушите ми като че ли чувам някоя прелестна, нежна камбанка. Мерилин Монро е икона, легенда, безспорно една от най-популярните Холивудски актриси и модели, която и до днес, години след загадъчната си смърт, продължава да предизвиква интерес, обожание, емоции и някой и друг скандал. Сякаш е единствена, неповторима и никоя друга никога няма да я надмине по хубост, чар и популярност.

„Мерилин Монро: Поверително и лично“ (изд. „Enthusiast“) е една от многото биографии на актрисата и може би се чудите кое по-точно я прави различна или по-добра от всички останали. Веднага ще кажа – авторката. Мишел Морган е страстен почитател на Монро и след множество прочетени книги за актрисата решава да напише своя версия, която да разкаже за живота на Монро откровено, поверително и лично. След 4 години проучвания Морган несъмнено създава една от най-подробните биографии за кинозвездата, включваща непубликувани досега фотографии, неизвестни факти, както и над 50 интервюта с личности, в чийто живот Монро е изиграла ключова роля.

Цялото ревю е тук: http://azcheta.com/merilin-monro-pove...

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michelle Morgan's 'Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed' (US subtitle 'Private and Confidential') is a fully revised, expanded update to her earlier Monroe biography, first published in 2007. This new paperback highlights her research and writing, with a more comprehensive text.

Morgan lives in Britain where, for twelve years, she headed the Marilyn Lives Society. She approaches Monroe's life from a different time and place, with compassion. However, Morgan's attention to detail is rigorous, allowing a broader view of the subject.

Morgan chronicles the making of Monroe's films; her creative ambitions and triumphs; marriages and lovers; her agonising struggle to have children, and battles with addiction and depression. In each case, Morgan shares her findings and clarifies past mistakes, adding her nuanced perspective to a story so often retold.

The subtlety of Morgan's portrayal comes to the fore in the chapters surrounding Marilyn's untimely death. She pinpoints errors made in the official investigation, and considers less-explored possibilities while allowing readers to draw their own conclusions.

Some may find this grounded, scrupulous approach unsuited to an enigmatic figure like Monroe. But with 'Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed', Michelle Morgan has completed a biography as complex and appealing as Marilyn herself.

[Mackenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read several bios on Marilyn and I think this is the one I like best. Lots of good interviews I've never heard before. Great rare pictures too.

[shona · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is was such a good insight into Norma Jean, and makes Marylin Monroe so much more human and understandable. Would recommend to anyone interested in Norma Jean’s life, she deserved so much better <3

[Artemis Crescent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a review of the 2012 'New Edition: Revised and Expanded' version.



A well written, well researched, engaging, loving, passionate, admirable biography that details the life of one "orphan"/foster child/model/actress/singer/entrepreneur, Norma Jeane, aka Marilyn Monroe, penned by a clear superfan.

There is so much written! So much the book contains!

It's not gossip. It's not any kind of fluff or sensationalised tabloid piece. It's not exploitative. It's simply the facts. A think piece that sympathises exceptionally with the amazing and amazingly human starlet. It's sensitive and empathetic towards her.

I am as fascinated as Michelle Morgan. The more I read about Marilyn, the more I learn about her, the more I love her, too. She's great in every film she's in, but she isn't to be defined by her filmography alone. She was such a brilliant, wonderful, shining gift of a human being, and like many gifts, we tend to use her and take her for granted, not fully appreciating what we had; not appreciating her for who she was - and is to us now.

She was far more behind the camera and the glamour. She had a brain, and she had so much to say! She was always trying to improve herself. She was a bookworm!

Marilyn was gorgeous, beautiful, honest, kind (but not a pushover, plus she had limits, like any person in her position), altruistic, not-so-naïve, curious and, simultaneously, a subject of curiosity herself, vulnerable, and tragic - in a myriad of kaleidoscopic, crystal-sparkling ways.

I think a lot of women identify with her, and want to be like her... without the darkness and curse of the patriarchy. If only she wasn't yet another victim, a casualty of a Hollywood run by monstrous, predatory men (usually and predominantly cishet white men).

She refused to be a victim, however. She refused to give up and give in. She was strong and determined, despite her depression and traumatic experiences. She was ambitious. She tried and fought until the bitter end.

Marilyn was, for lack of a more suitable word, a goddess, who was taken from us far too soon.

A laudable, whole, three dimensional, no-shits-giveth-nor-taketh person, living life to the full, bursting with all the potential in the world, who could have and should have lived for those promising dreams of hers to come true. Oh, to think what could have been.

These are among the reasons why we continue to be starstruck by Marilyn; why she remains so beloved even today.

Let us never forget her, and other women like her.

'Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed' - also contains collected black and white photos.

I am currently reading Michelle Morgan's other, later released biography about Marilyn, 'The Girl: Marilyn Monroe, The Seven Year Itch, and the Birth of an Unlikely Feminist', and so far I am enjoying it.

Reading about the world's most famous classic starlet is very sad and heartbreaking, yet these make for good, immersive holiday books.

Captivating, curious, enticing, enchanting, beguiling, and breathtaking stuff, like the woman herself.

Morgan's writing and research are a must for any Marilyn Monroe fan.

For further thoughts from this Marilyn fan, here is a link to my 'Marilyn Monroe: By Eve Arnold' review.

Final Score: 4/5

P.S. I just realised that Michelle Morgan has the same M-name alliteration as her idol, Marilyn Monroe.

[Judi Easley · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Disclaimer:

I purchased this book. I am providing an honest review for which I am receiving no compensation of any kind. All opinions are fully my own.

~ Judi E. Easley for Blue Cat Review

My Review: ✭✭✭

I have never read any of Ms. Morgan’s other works on Marilyn, but this one is well researched. The biography itself is the first 72% of the book. Then remembrances are another 2%. The references are 12% of the book. An in-depth index takes up 12%. Then the photos take the last 2% of the book. She has talked to people who have never been spoken to before, especially about Marilyn’s early years.

She uses a tone that seems like straight-up reportage sometimes and a novel at others. But I guess that’s life. There is significant information and the pace moves it along fairly quickly. Two things bothered me about this book. One is everything seemed to have the same importance. Nothing was stressed or highlighted more than anything else. Almost like a monotone. A bit mind-numbing I found.

The other thing was the address book aspect. I wanted to get out a map and some map pins and mark every address she mentioned. I was tempted to go back and count how many addresses were mentioned in the book!

It seemed to be a thorough look into Marilyn’s early years and the relationships from those years. The later years that had been much more publicized, were not covered as deeply and seemed to almost be just touched on. After all the detail and addresses of the earlier parts, the ending was tied up fairly quickly. The Kennedy and Sinatra involvements were down-played, I felt. Overall, it showed a woman who was totally unprepared for the life she stumbled into and just tried to handle it as best she could.

This is not the bio I would recommend for someone who hasn’t read anything about Marilyn Monroe before, but as a secondary read, it’s fine.

[DW · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really care much about Marilyn Monroe (I hated The Seven Year Itch because Marilyn's character is to stupid to be alive), but I loved the TV series Smash. And I was flabbergasted when I finally looked Marilyn up on Wikipedia and found out she had a horrible childhood, so I thought a biography of her would be interesting. I picked this one because it was the shortest of the three that were at the library.

First off, it was weird to read a British book about an American actor ("whilst," "odour," etc). Beyond that, the book reads like a litany of every fact the author could find about Marilyn. I appreciate that the book was well-researched, but it was not well-written. Just because we know that Marilyn and Joe rested for two hours after their press conference after getting off the plane in England, doesn't mean that anybody cares. Details about what Marilyn was wearing appear randomly, and some arbitrary days are described in excruciating detail. Another factor that made the book less readable was the interview quotes that are entire paragraphs. Verbatim quotes of that length don't fit seamlessly into the text. They are clearly somebody else's voice, and many times the quote is an entire story that doesn't immediately seem related to the flow of the text.

Many of the reviews here say that this book is unbiased, and if that is the case I would hate to read a biased book. My impression was that the author was a huge Marilyn fan (the first sentence of her bio is that she is the president of the UK Marilyn fan club), who went out of her way to include stories that showed Marilyn in a good light. There were about ten stories from random people she met only once, telling how amazingly nice she was to accept some wilted roses from a fan or to help carry someone's garbage down when he was blocking the stairs. There was only one story from a photographer who said that Marilyn insisted that his nine-months pregnant wife sit outside in the car while the star took three hours cutting the photographs she didn't like into little pieces. (And I guess another story about a costume designer who was suddenly fired for no good reason, but the blame seemed to be put more on Natasha Lytess's influence than on Marilyn herself.) It just seems like there are probably more negative stories out there that didn't get included. Also, the author dismisses out of hand that Marilyn's lateness on the set of The Misfits had anything to do with Clark Gable's death. I'm a big fan of Clark Gable, and I'm sure being stuck out in the hot desert waiting for Marilyn wasn't exactly good for his health ...

After reading about how she was always hours late for shooting and caused any movie she was in to be delayed and run over budget, I wondered why any studio would hire her. Then I watched Some Like It Hot and realized she really does glow on screen. So now I'm much more enlightened about Marilyn, but I still wouldn't recommend this book to anybody.

[Ilina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing novel definitely!

Marilyn Monroe is my idol,I totally adore her!Nowadays many people accept her only as a sex symbol and nothing more.It is really sad because she was so much more than just a sex symbol!She was an amazing person and an amazing actress!

Michelle Morgan succeed in showing the unknown side of Marilyn - the real one.Yes, Marilyn was on the top of the world and everybody loved her but the only thing she desired was love.It's sad how she was always hurt and how she never had the chance to have the children who she wanted so badly!

If you want to know Marilyn Monroe better,if you want to know Norma Jean who was the real Marilyn Monroe,you have to add this book to your must-read!It is a really good beginning in knowing the woman Marilyn not the superstar Marilyn better.

Very good job,Michelle,very good!

[George Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book I would recommend to a new fan of Marilyn or a person who wants to know more about it. Morgan does such a great job telling Marilyn's story! She has included interviews with people who generally knew Marilyn which no one has had interviews from before. She includes rare photographs of the young Norma Jeane from one of the people she had interviewed for the book. She either debunks lies or doesn't include them and tells the story of the star's life.

[Ylenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recensione de: "Dieci uomini per Marilyn Monroe" di Morgana Montermini e Enrico Monti.

Una lettura veloce, di nemmeno 100 pagine, che mi ha fatto trascorrere momenti piacevoli. 10 uomini con cui la Diva di Hollywood Marilyn Monroe ha avuto delle relazioni sentimentali in vita (Arthur Miller, Robert Kennedy, Clark Gable, Frank Sinatra, Ralph Greenson, Johnny Hyde, Joe Di Maggio, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Sam Giancana è Yves Montald) che parlano in prima persona dall'aldilà, dal loro divano di nuvole da cui osservano ancora le vicende del mondo terreno e si incontrano in pace per una partita di baseball o per ascoltare musica in un localino la sera... Questa ambientazione mi ha fatto sorridere, ma è l'unica possibile immaginando le parole che questi uomini, spogliati del loro ruolo politico e la loro immagine pubblica, hanno potuto finalmente esprimere in libertà verso la donna che hanno amato, idealizzato, ma anche usato e sfruttato in vita, perché si, spesso queste storie furono veloci e turbolente nella vita di Marilyn.
In generale è una lettura che mi incuriosiva da tempo e che sono felice di aver fatto, per i fan di Marllyn Monroe è una chicca che non può mancare.

[Miglena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Четири звезди от мен, с уговорката, че бих дала доста по-малко. Оценката е завишена, защото този жанр не е моят, но смятам за честно да не се влияя от личните си предпочитания, след като още при започването на книгата бях наясно с това.
Обективно погледнато, книгата е добре написана и последователно структурирана. Авторката е положила усилия да събере и прецизно да отсее достъпната ѝ информация от клюките.
Ако харесвате биографии на известни личности, особено с личен и интимен поглед, вероятно ще я оцените високо. Аз лично не открих нищо, което да промени отношението ми към жанра – просто не ми е близък. Не обичам този тип текстове, които се ровят в живота на известните, без да предлагат по-дълбока историческа или морална стойност. Надявах се, че чрез личността на Мерилин ще бъде уловен и духът на времето, но подобно усещане липсваше. Книгата е концентрирана изцяло върху актрисата и събитията от живота ѝ.

[Charlotte Monroe Peel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big Marilyn Monroe fan & I often get people asking me what the best book about her is to read. This one is always my answer!

Very well researched, if you’re looking for conspiracy theories, this book isn’t for you. The only information you will find here is 100% fact. A true look at who Marilyn was. Good & bad.

There are so many biographies out there with false information. It can be difficult to know what to believe. Michelle debunks many of the widely believed lies about Marilyn.

Whether this is your first book on her or you consider yourself to be pretty knowledgeable already, this is an absolute must read!

[Zlatina Dimova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Личността на Мерилин и енергията, която е излъчвала винаги ще остане загадка. Много от нещата в книгата са оставени "отворени" и без доказателства дали са се случили или не, много други истории за живота и пък са оправдани, че няма как да са истина. Едно е сигурно, славата и популярността си имат своята цена, която тя "изплаща" през живота си и все пак е останала уважавана и ценена от много хора като човек и професионалист. В книгата има спомени и мнения на различни хора, които са имали досег с нея, което много обогатява тази биография.

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very personal look at the legendary actress. This was my first Marilyn Monroe book and I couldn’t be happier. One of my favourite books I have ever bought. It gave me a chance to learn about who Norma Jeane was, the kind heart she had, the difficult moments throughout her career and life, up to her tragic death. The last couple of chapters were heartbreaking and even hard to read. This was the perfect introduction to Marilyn for me, I loved it very, very much.

[Alex Murrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and very well structured. Unlike other books & reports this book is detailed and contains nothing but fact. The author clearly has a real passion for Marilyn and told her story in a different light and Kept me interested from the beginning so would highly recommend! You get to know norma jeane thoroughly and see aspects of marilyn’s personality that show her as a normal girl who just wanted to be loved instead of a Hollywood starlet.

[Antonio Matta · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible and very intimate biography that was clearly written with love by a huge Marilyn Monroe's fan.
I have been reading books about Marilyn since I was a teenager, and I can say that this is by far the best biography about Marilyn that I have ever read.
It truly captures her soul and gives a glimpse of the genius and many talents of whom is considered
to be the greatest star of Cinema.

[Lindsay Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good account of Marilyn Monroe's life. It's clear the author did a lot of research and respected Monroe for the multi-faceted human she was.
My only issue was that the writing got into the weeds a little too much. I don't know how much I needed to know about her mother's life, or every encounter she had while filming. Also, the cause and effect connections were sometimes vague, meaning I had to re-read to understand why things happened.

[Sasha Saunders · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took me forever to get through this. I was bored outta my mind! I can’t say as I’m a fan of Marilyn Monroe. And this book didn’t draw me to like her either. It’s a sad story of a girl who came into this world in a bad way and sadly went out in an even worse way! I’m looking forward to the next thing I read, cause even a old phone book would be more interesting than this book was.

[Cindy Lou Poquette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been fascinated by this complicated, disingenuous woman for decades. This book gave her a very humane persona. I can remember the disdain she was held in by women of her own age and I have to ask myself how well any of them would have done with the same discordant upbringing as she had! I enjoyed the warmth of this presentation.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I really enjoyed learning about Marilyn Monroe because I didn't know much about her. Sometimes it was hard to keep track of all the different people. I also wished the author spent a little more time on the Kennedys. Very enjoyable overall.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and well written

I enjoyed the book. I know next to nothing about Marilyn Monroe and was interested to learn more about her. I liked this book because it seemed pretty factual with little opinions.

[Raelyn Forsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt as if Marilyn herself was telling me her story when I was reading this book. I am so thankful to have experienced her story.. what an amazing human being!

[Gail allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The girl

I love stories about Marilyn. Each book reveals a different aspect of her personality I never knew. I wish she was still alive

[Chris Wilby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad tale of Norma Jean Baker

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny one for me, I've read many books on Monroe, and though this was by far one of the most well researched, I found it detached and hard to engage with.