20 Best Books About Marilyn Monroe (2023 Update)

Marilyn monroe (1926-1962) remains one of america's most compelling and tragic figures. her films, as well as her public persona, established her as both a gifted artist and a potent cultural icon. this biography is a work of stunning scope and depth, both accurate and absorbing. based on over 150 interviews and more than 35,000 pages of previously sealed files, including monroe's diaries, letters, and other personal and revealing documents, this book reveals new details of every aspect of her life, from her guarded childhood, and her relationships with men and marriages, to her mysterious death. the author also comments on previous books about marilyn, and puts to rest questions regarding monroe's connection with the kennedys. it is truly a revelatory portrait of marilyn's personal and professional lives, as well as the truth about her controversial death. — publisher description.

“donald wolfe has written one of the most absorbing accounts of marilyn’s life to date.”—fred lawrence guiles, author of norma jean“admirable!… wolfe takes us very close indeed to the dark truth about monroe, the kennedys, and that lonely death in the california night.”—anthony summers, author of goddess: the secret lives of marilyn monroefifty years after her death, the marilyn monroe mystique remains as strong and alluring as ever—as evidenced by michelle williams’ golden globe-winning performance in the critically acclaimed film, my week with marilyn, and nbc tv’s drama smash about the creation of a marilyn-themed broadway musical. wolfe, a former hollywood screenwriter and film editor, examines the tragic starlet’s final weeks and offers startling evidence to support his provocative claim that marilyn’s alleged suicide was, in fact, a homicide. a powerful and intimate look into the dark side of hollywood and john f. kennedy’s camelot, the last days of marilyn monroe is a must-read for movie buffs, true crime aficionados, and the many still enchanted by the monroe magic.

Challenging sensational falsehoods, berniece and mona present the only authorized book about marilyn on the shelves. "berniece miracle finally opens up her family album–and translates an american legend into flesh and blood… my sister marilyn is a big hug across the decades to a sweet, talented, loving girl." –life magazine "…a highly literate, readable account." –the bookwatch "my sister marilyn tells an unfamiliar story…this book is really different." –time out

Bombshell: the night bobby kennedy murdered marilyn monroe tells the essential truth of the death of marilyn monroe at the hand of robert kennedy, attorney general of the united states. drawing on unseen police files, marilyn monroe's private diary, and first-hand testimony, this book proves that robert kennedy was directly responsible for her death. it details marilyn monroe's tumultuous personal involvement with him and his brother, president john kennedy. the new evidence and testimony is provided by mike rothmiller who, as an agent of the organized crime intelligence division (ocid) of the lapd, had direct personal access to hundreds of secret files on exactly what happened at marilyn monroe's californian home on august 5, 1962. with his training and specialist knowledge, rothmiller used that unseen information to get to the heart of the matter, to the people who were there the night marilyn monroe died–two of whom played major roles in the cover-up–and the wider conspiracy to protect the kennedys at all costs. there will be those with doubts, but to them, the lawman–who has advised the white house, the pentagon, and international crime agencies–says the printed, forensic, and oral evidence are totally convincing. he insists: "if i presented my evidence in any court of law, i'd get a conviction." includes eight pages of black and white photographs.

This is the hardback version. goddess… legend… icon… you thought you knew her… but never like this. marilyn monroe (1926-1962) survived a childhood marked by abuse, neglect, and chaos to become a psychological, cultural, and spiritual phenomenon of the twentieth century. her remarkable life, brilliant film career, and posthumous legend have been deconstructed in over 600 biographies. psychotherapist & author gary vitacco-robles reframes and redefines the fascinating woman behind the iconic image through an analysis of her psyche and an appreciation of her film and stage performances in volume 2 of this definitive biography. after a decade of meticulous research, vitacco-robles offers a treasure trove of facts comprehensively documenting each year of monroe's inspiring life within the context of her tumultuous times, and through her relationships with literary, entertainment, and political figures. monroe is resurrected a half-century after her tragic death in this detailed and sensitive biography that intelligently explores her passionate desires: to be loved, become a serious actress, and have a family. volume 2 examines the last six years of marilyn's life and her impact on our culture in the five decades following her early tragic death. its pages provide a deeper understanding of this remarkable woman and the lasting impression she left behind. based upon interviews, diaries, and personal files-void of sensationalism-icon: the life, times, & films of marilyn monroe vol. 2 dispels many myths and reveals the ultimate truth about hollywood's most charismatic, beloved, and enduring star.

Traces the tragic life of film star marilyn monroe, examines the circumstances surrounding her death, and discusses her connection with the kennedys

Traces the tragic life of film star marilyn monroe, examines the circumstances surrounding her death, and discusses her connection with the kennedys

-this archive immortalizes marilyn monroe at the height of her beauty and fame -photographs of marilyn in various settings, from swimming pools to ballerina dresses, can finally be viewed as originally intended -taken by milton h. greene and restored by greene's son joshua, these photos document not only marilyn's ability to light-up on camera but also the effort joshua dedicated to restoring his father's work milton h. greene (1922-1985), famous for his fashion photography and celebrity portraits from the golden age of hollywood, met marilyn monroe on a photo shoot for look magazine in 1953. the pair developed an instant rapport, quickly becoming close friends and ultimately business partners. in 1954, after helping her get out of her studio contract with 20th century fox, they created marilyn monroe productions, inc. milton and marilyn were much more then business partners, marilyn became a part of the greene family. by the time their relationship had ended in 1957, the pair had produced two feature films, in addition to more than 5,000 photographs of the iconic beauty. there was magic in milton and marilyn's working relationship. the trust and confidence they had in each other's capabilities was on full display in each photo. greene passed in 1985, thinking his life's work was succumbing to the ravages of time. his eldest son, joshua, began a journey to meticulously restore his father's legacy. a photographer himself, joshua spent years researching ways to restore his father's photographs as well as cataloging and promoting milton's vast body of work all over the world. as a result, joshua established "the archives," a company committed to the restoration and preservation of photography. after spending nearly two decades restoring his father's archive, joshua greene and his company are widely regarded as one of the leaders in photographic restoration and have been at the forefront of the digital imaging and large-format printing revolution. now joshua greene, in conjunction with iconic images, presents the essential marilyn monroe: milton h. with 280 photographs, including newly scanned and restored classics, as well as images that have appeared only once in publication, greene's marilyn monroe archive can finally be viewed as it was originally intended when these pictures were first produced more than 60 years ago. these classic sessions – 50 in all – cover monroe at the height of her astonishing beauty and meteoric fame. from film-sets to the bedroom, at home and at play, joshua has curated a lasting tribute to the work of a great photographer and his greatest muse. poignant and powerful, joyful and stunning – these breathtaking images of an icon stand above all the rest. greene, 50 sessions is sure to be a book that will become the platinum standard in photography monographs.

Presents an account of the life, loves, career, and death of marilyn monroe, including an examination of her relationship with john f. kennedy.

Presents an account of the life, loves, career, and death of marilyn monroe, including an examination of her relationship with john f. kennedy.

Goddess . . . legend . . . icon. you thought you knew her, but never before like this. marilyn monroe (1926-1962) survived a childhood marked by abuse, neglect, and chaos to become a psychological, cultural, and spiritual phenomenon of the twentieth century. her remarkable life, brilliant film career, and posthumous legend have been deconstructed in over 600 biographies. psychotherapist and author gary vitacco-robles reframes and redefines the fascinating woman behind the iconic image through an analysis of her psyche and an appreciation of her film and stage performances. after a decade of meticulous research, vitacco-robles offers a treasure trove of facts comprehensively documenting each year of monroe's inspiring life within the context of her tumultuous times and through her relationships with literary, entertainment, and political figures. monroe is resurrected a half-century after her tragic death in this detailed and sensitive biography which intelligently explores her passionate desires: to be loved, become a serious actress, and have a family. based upon interviews, diaries, and personal files, and void of sensationalism, this biography dispels many myths and reveals the ultimate truth about hollywood's most charismatic, beloved, and enduring star. robles brings a unique perspective to his biography of monroe with the extensively detailed account of not only her fascinating and tumultuous life but by presenting a psychological perspective of the many facets of her personality. what sets this book apart is his ability to shed a new light on her humanity and psyche to bring forth a balanced view of the person inside. “icon” is tribute to the reality of her work, heartache and strengths that coincide with the wonder and complexity of the truly iconic star. available now. — rage magazine, may 2014

In july 1956, marilyn monroe arrived in london—on honeymoon with her husband arthur miller—to make the prince and the showgirl with sir laurence olivier. it was meant to be a happy time . . ." i am dying to walk bare-headed in the rain. then, in the evening, the couple would be able to relax together in their private english country cottage. but the cottage was a mansion, in englefield green, and marilyn, used to living in tiny hotel rooms and apartments, felt herself being watched. she was, by several of owner lord drogheda's servants, who were selling stories to the papers. and when filming began, all did not go as hoped. over time, marilyn grew to hate olivier; the feeling was mutual. marilyn found herself a curiosity for the frequently hostile british press. she took solace in bike rides in windsor great park, in small acts of kindness from members of the public, and in a growing fascination with queen elizabeth, whom she longed to meet—and eventually did.

Marilyn monroe, perhaps more than any other actress, captured the hearts and the imagination of people the world over and remains an icon for each new generation. this sumptously illustrated record of marilyn features the star at all stages of her life, incorporating a wealth of interview material, gathered together to build a kaleidoscopic picture of her character. her own words combined with a complete filmography, discography and bibliography, make this a fascinating record of an actress who probably generated more interest and affection than any star of her generation.

Marilyn monroeshe vigorously played the dumb-blonde stereotype in her movie roles, but there is nothing at all dumb about marilyn monroe. born to a single mother who suffered from severe mental illness, the odds were stacked against the girl originally named norma jeane from the very beginning. she became a ward of the state and bounced around from foster home to foster home. the fact that she rose from such impoverished beginnings to become one of the top-billed acts in hollywood speaks for itself. inside you will read about…- from foster child to movie star- the scene with the white dress- marilyn the jew- diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia- marilyn's first overdose- the presidential affair- locked in the psych wardand much more! discover the life and legend that is marilyn monroe.

Cursum perficio is the name of marilyn monroe's last home. cursum perficio, the book, is author gary vitacco-robles' exploration of marilyn's last home as a touchstone to her brief and extraordinary life. a definitive testament of marilyn monroe's modest nature, simple tastes and spirituality was her selection of a house in which to settle at age 35. the spanish colonial hacienda symbolizes marilyn's unfulfilled dreams and unfinished life. the latin inscription on the tiles adorning the front doorstep, cursum perficio (translating to "my journey ends"), prophesied the screen goddess' death in the home in 1962. cursum perficio invites us inside marilyn's private life through 120 illustrations and previously unpublished photos of her hacienda and its contents. vitacco-robles reveals the events during marilyn's last months, her daily routine, and her random acts of kindness. cursum perficio is not a sensational exploitation of marilyn monroe but a celebration of the human being behind the legend. it is a rare and refreshing exploration for the most devout fan and an insightful introduction for those just discovering this enduring icon of the twentieth century. this expanded second edition contains added chapters and new images by brandon heidrick.

A new york times best seller! implicating robert f. kennedy in marilyn monroe’s murder, this is the first book to name the lapd officers who accompanied him to her home, provide details about how the kennedys used bribes to silence one of the ambulance drivers, and specify how the cover-up was aided by a noted pathologist’s lies. – since marilyn monroe died among suspicious circumstances on the night of august 4, 1962, there have been queries and theories, allegations and investigations, but no definitive evidence about precisely what happened and who was involved . . . until now. – here renowned mm expert jay margolis and new york times bestselling author richard buskin finally lay to rest more than fifty years of wild speculation and misguided assertions by actually naming, for the first time, the screen goddess’s killer while utilizing the testimony of eye-witnesses to exactly what took place inside her house on fifth helena drive in los angeles’ brentwood neighborhood. – this blockbuster volume blows the lid off the world’s most notorious and talked-about celebrity death, and in the process exposes not only the truth about an iconic star’s tragic final hours, but also how a legendary american politician used powerful resources to protect what many still perceive as his untarnished reputation. – skyhorse publishing, as well as our arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history–books about world war ii, the third reich, hitler and his henchmen, the jfk assassination, conspiracies, the american civil war, the american revolution, gladiators, vikings, ancient rome, medieval times, the old west, and much more.

In american popular culture, marilyn monroe(1926-1962) has evolved in stature from movie superstar to american icon. monroe's own understanding of her place in the american imagination and her effort to perfect her talent as an actress are explored with great sensitivity in carl rollyson's engaging narrative. he shows how movies became crucial events in the shaping of monroe's identity. he regards her enduring gifts as a creative artist, discussing how her smaller roles in the asphalt jungle and all about eve established the context for her career, while in-depth chapters on her more important roles in bus stop, some like it hot, and the misfits provide the centerpiece of his examination of her life and career. through extensive interviews with many of monroe's colleagues, close friends, and other biographers, and a careful rethinking of the literature written about her, rollyson is able to describe her use of method acting and her studies with michael chekhov and lee strasberg, head of the actors' studio in new york. the author also analyzes several of monroe's own drawings, diary notes, and letters that have recently become available. with over thirty black and white photographs (some published for the first time), a new foreword, and a new afterword, this volume brings rollyson's 1986 book up to date. from this comprehensive, yet critically measured wealth of material, rollyson offers a distinctive and insightful portrait of marilyn monroe, highlighted by new perspectives that depict the central importance of acting to the authentic aspects of her being.

"i'm so many people. they shock me sometimes. i wish i was just me!" –marilyn monroenearly sixty years after her death, marilyn monroe remains an icon whom everyone loves but no one really knows. the conversations gathered here–spanning her emergence on the hollywood scene to just days before her death at age 36–show monroe at her sharpest and most insightful on the thorny topics of ambition, fame, femininity, desire, and more. together with an introduction by sady doyle, these pieces reveal yet another marilyn: not the tragic heroine she's become in the popular imagination, but a righteously and justifiably angry figure breaking free of the limitations the world forced on her.

A city, a movie star, and one magical year.in november of 1954 a young woman dressed plainly in a white oxford, dark sunglasses and a black pageboy wig boards a midnight flight from los angeles to new york. as the plane’s engines rev she breathes a sigh of relief, lights a cigarette and slips off her wig revealing a tangle of fluffy blonde curls. marilyn monroe was leaving hollywood behind, and along with it a failed marriage and a frustrating career. she needed a break from the scrutiny and insanity of la. she needed manhattan. in manhattan, the most famous woman in the world can wander the streets unbothered, spend hours at the met getting lost in art, and afternoons buried in the stacks of the strand. marilyn begins to live a life of the mind in new york; she dates arthur miller, dances with truman capote and drinks with carson mccullers. even though she had never lived there before, in new york, marilyn is home.in marilyn in manhattan, the iconic blonde bombshell is not only happy, but successful. she breaks her contract with fox studios to form her own production company, a groundbreaking move that makes her the highest paid actress in history and revolutionizes the entertainment industry. a true love letter to marilyn, and a joyous portrait of a city bursting with life and art, marilyn in manhattan is a beautifully written, lively look at two american treasures: new york and marilyn monroe, and sheds new light on one of our most enduring icons.

A special memoir for a special moment in hollywood history . . . some like it hot occupies a unique place in american culture. this beloved classic showcases five comic geniuses: tony curtis, jack lemmon, i. l. diamond, billy wilder, and marilyn monroe. it has been honored by the american film institute as the ""funniest film of all time"". it has contributed quotes, styles, and stories to film lore. yet the full story of its making has never been told–until now.