Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, and Six Intimate Friends [Hardcover]

Judy Quine (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Quine's father was president of Paramount Pictures; her one-time husband was Jay Kanter, an agent whose clients included Grace Kelly. The author, one of the actress's "six intimate friends" who served as her bridesmaids, writes vividly of all their lives and of the media event of 1956, the film star's wedding to Prince Rainier of Monaco. The book is exhaustively detailed and opinionated, criticizing the husbands of these privileged women as chauvinists responsible for their failed marriages. Quine tells as well about her own infidelity to Kanter and to her second husband, Anthony Franciosa. Examples of disappointments suffered by actress Rita Gam and the other bridesmaids are interspersed with anecdotes about Hollywood luminaries, the latter dropping almost audibly on the pages. Contrasting with the disclosures of the uncharmed lives of the bridesmaids are accounts that reinforce one's memory of the princess as a loyal wife, mother, friend and worker for her adopted country until her death in 1982. Photos not seen by PW. First serial to Vanity Fair.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Grace Kelly's marriage was a fairy tale worthy of Hollywood. Quine, a privileged young woman herself, shared in the glamour and excitement as one of Kelly's bridesmaids. Her book is not only a biography of the actress, but by focusing on the lives of Kelly's six close frineds, it also draws a portrait of a generation of women. Beginning in the optimism of the Fifties, these disparate lives mirror much of the change the United States has faced since World War II. At times superficial and at others more philosophical, Quine's work provides an interesting angle to what might otherwise have been a rather standard biography.
- Barbara E. Kemp, Washington State Univ. Lib., Pullman
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 498 pages
• Publisher: Grove Pr; 1st edition (May 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555840671
• ISBN-13: 978-1555840679
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,184,072 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Writing .... Interesting Perspective, July 15, 2004

By 

Jill U. "Jill U." (Madison, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco and Six Intimate Friends (Paperback)

It has been a long time since I first read this book, (1994) - however, this biography of Grace Kelly is one that forever stands out in my mind as a great portrayal of the princess and actress.
Quine writes of Grace as only a best friend can. She shows Grace Kelly in good times and sad times, exploring her emotions and her fears and overall, portrays the princess as a real human being. I couldn't help but feel that as I read this book Quine was letting me into Grace Kelly's life a little more than she should, and by the time I finished this book, I felt I knew more about Grace Kelly than ever the media could allow me to. I felt literally, like one of Grace Kelly's friends or even a confidant. That is how close Quine brings you to this legendary person.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well worth a look, February 22, 2006

By 

Louise Kolbeinsen "Louise" (England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, and Six Intimate Friends (Hardcover)

This is an interesting book about a very interesting lady.
Ms Quine has an intimate view of one of the most famous marriages of the past century. She writes eloquently of a time past, where women lived to be married, and the progression to the modern day where most of the bridesmaids had shed those essential husbands.
Ms Quine has an easy to read writing style and you can whip through this book.
My only criticism is that the book focuses far too much on Ms Quine. She seems to have a very high opinion of herself, and while others may have found reading about her interesting, I did not.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and unusual, May 24, 2004

By 

R. Tiedemann "Sunnye" (Bellevue, NE USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, and Six Intimate Friends (Hardcover)

It's an absorbing and different kind of story, this tale of six girls, best friends, of The Lsst of the Hollywood Glamour Girls (Grace Kelly), who were bridesmaids in Ms. Kelly's Royal Wedding. There's more to the book, however, because it's a book about women who grew up believing they would find their Prince and live happily ever after someday -- and didn't.

Whether the bride did or not remains a matter of conjecture, although the impression here is that Grace Kelly Rainier's married life really wasn't all that terrific after all.

The book is opinionated to the point of being offensive. The author solves problems and gives advice to all who would listen. Her voice is strident but her story is compelling. I enjoyed the book, although I certainly do not agree with her perception of the women of her day. (I am one, after all, and I can speak with the authority of personal experience.)