Marilyn Monroe was an actress, model and singer and by far one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century. Born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1st, 1926 she grew up to be the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s, perfecting the blonde bombshell persona still emulated by many today.
Monroe’s private life was not without controversy and she had documented struggles with substance abuse, depression and anxiety. Her second and third marriages to baseball star Joe DiMaggio and playwright Arthur Miller were both highly publicised and both ended in divorce, then there were the rumours of an affair with the president.
On 5th August 1962, Monroe died at home from an apparent overdose of barbiturates. Although the cause of death was officially suicide, rumours of foul play continued and many details of Monroe’s death do not add up. Due to this, and the actress’s tumultuous life many books have been written about her, today we’re featuring some of the best.
Marilyn Monroe: An Appreciation – Eve Arnold
Arnold photographed Monroe extensively throughout her life, this book is a collection of those photographs and text by Arnold giving insight into Monroe’s life.
Marilyn Monroe: An Appreciation US
Marilyn Monroe: An Appreciation UK
Music for Chameleons – Truman Capote
Capote and Monroe were close friends and the author wrote several portraits of Marilyn. This collection of short stories, or ‘nonfiction novels’ as Capote calls them features Monroe and several other figures of the time.
My Story – Marilyn Monroe
If the truth only comes from the horses mouth then this biography, written at the height of Monroe’s fame is the definitive book. Unpublished until a decade after the actress’s death this autobiography recounts her unwanted childhood, her marriages and her prescient vision of herself as “the kind of girl they found dead in the hall bedroom with an empty bottle of sleeping pills in her hand”.
Blonde – Joyce Carol Oates
Although unnamed, Monroe is the blonde is Oates’ compelling 700 page novel on Monroe’s life. This novel looks at Monroe’s enigma, the rumours that surrounded her life, and death, and is likely to leave you with more questions than answers.
Marilyn Monroe: The Biography – Donald Spoto
Using 150 interviews and 35,000 pages of previously sealed documents and letters and other personal files including letters, and Monroe’s diaries, this is the most accurate biography of Monroe’s life.
Marilyn Monroe: The Biography US
Marilyn Monroe: The Biography UK
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