Edith Bouvier Beale of Grey Gardens: A Life in Pictures [Hardcover]

Eva Marie Beale (Author), Anne Verlhac (Editor), Bouvier Beale Jr. (Introduction), Peter Beard (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2008

Edith “Little Edie” Bouvier Beale (1917-2002) is best known for her appearance in the critically acclaimed 1975 film Grey Gardens, a documentary by Albert and David Maysles that explored the reclusive lives of Beale and her mother “Big Edie,” the first cousin and aunt of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, respectfully. Over the past three decades, the film and its eccentric stars have become cult icons, inspiring fashion tributes by the likes of Phillip Lim and John Galliano, a hit Broadway musical adaptation that swept up three Tony Awards in 2007, and an upcoming HBO movie starring Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange as the famed odd couple.

Edith Bouvier Beale of Grey Gardens: A Life in Pictures, the latest installment in a series that includes photo-biographies of John F. Kennedy, Pope John Paul II, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, and others, presents the most in-depth look at the life of Little Edie since the Maysles’ film vaulted her into the public consciousness. Conceived by members of the Beale family, the book traces a line from Edie’s childhood through her heady days as a young socialite and her later years at Grey Gardens, the decrepit East Hampton estate where she and her mother lived in near-total isolation for decades. Featuring over 150 newly uncovered photographs and letters, Edith Bouvier Beale of Grey Gardens offers unprecedented access to the personal history of this twentieth-century woman of mystery.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The book is filled with photographs, letters, drawings and sundry scrapbook items (J.F.K. and Jackie's wedding invitation, a letter from Macy's encouraging her to model) culled from Edie's overstuffed and truly inspiring archives." --The New York Times

From the Author

As the immediate family of Edith Bouvier Beale, it is with great pleasure and pride that we present this collection of work after almost half a century of collecting dust in family archives.

Following her death in 2002 our family began the heartbreaking task of putting my aunt, Little Edie's, remaining possessions in order. Nostalgic and captivated, I carefully sifted thought the contents of the boxes, suitcases, and scrapbooks that she had saved over the decades: photographs, journals, writings, poetry, sketches, and letters were packaged in small, labeled bundles (an arrangement that eventually made the publication of this collection possible), that presented an insightful chronology of Little Edie's life.

Although Little and Big Edie Beale were thrust into the public's view following the release of the Grey Gardens documentary, the true story of Little Edie's life has essentially remained a mystery since the mid 1950's. In contrast to the documentary, what became strikingly clear was the love, dedication, and seeming normalcy of her privileged youth. Filled with family vacations, costume parties, soirées, fashin shows, fundraising functions, and weekly trips to the cinema, the Beale family lived a remarkably loving life within the Hamptons high society of the early 20th century. I found an astounding number of photographs, letters, and poems from her childhood, presenting quite the contrast to the cats and decrepitude of Grey Gardens during the 1970s. However, as was reflected in various letters, bank statements, and attorney correspondences, as the economic pressures of the Depression years set it, life began to change for little Edie at Grey Gardens, gradually transforming into the familiar scene of the 1970s documentary. Nonetheless, despite the Beale's steady economic decline over the course of almost half a decade, the loving and graceful writings from these years make their continued creativity, dedication to one and other, good nature, and attempt to maintain their dignity conspicuously clear.

Immediately following my Aunt Edie's death, I began the arduous process of reconstructing her young life in order to compile this collection. As a close family member, I have enjoyed the privilege of having Edie's humor and wisdom in my life, and as a result this anthology was conceived with deep dedication, understanding, and personal connection.

We hope this book will help see Edie differently and with a deeper appreciation of how she grew into the familiar character from the Grey Gardens documentary. We hope not to only restore her dignity, but also make known her sensitivity, passion, and genius that we, as her family, remember vividly. It was clear that Little Edie wanted her story to be shared.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Verlhac Editions; 2nd edition (October 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 2916954066
• ISBN-13: 978-2916954066
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 0.9 x 11.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #495,233 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even better than I hoped, June 3, 2009

By 

B. W. Maness (Santa Barbara, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Edith Bouvier Beale of Grey Gardens: A Life in Pictures (Hardcover)

Over the last few years I have collected all the Grey Gardens related items I could find (excluding the house itself!) I just received this book today and, other than the DVDs, this is my favorite.

As soon as I opened the box, I had to sit and go through the entire book page by page. With every turn, my interest grew. It is a beautiful collection of photos and other memorabilia that give insight to a most fascinating life. Somehow, I thought that Edie's active life in New York and other social scenes was short. But that was corrected by photos of that life that lead all the way to 1952 and her return to Grey Gardens.

There are many highlights throughout, but the one that made me gasp was a transcript and facsimile of a longish letter written by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in 1972 on Olympic Airlines stationary as she was flying. This letter details her love and attachment to both Edies. It gives very personal insight into those relationships but also to her own life that I have never seen written anywhere.

I could not recommend this book more highly.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Tribute to Little Edie, December 13, 2008

By 

Robert W. Montague Jr. (Asheville, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Edith Bouvier Beale of Grey Gardens: A Life in Pictures (Hardcover)

Eva Beale has assembled a wonderful tribute to Little Edie. As she stated in her Amazon.com description of the book, the photos provide touching insight into Little Edie's life as a whole. It is clear that Little Edie lived life on her own terms, and she inspired many more people than she probably ever was aware of. What a treat this book is, and it was well worth the wait. Thank you, Eva, for your hard work toward providing this tribute to Little Edie's memory.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ..because it's Winter in a Summer town, January 17, 2009

By 

John Faber (Omaha, NE United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Edith Bouvier Beale of Grey Gardens: A Life in Pictures (Hardcover)

Had to order this book through Strand in New York--Amazon didn't have it available by Christmas. Wonderful personal photos, letters, and writings from Edie's life. Helps shed some light on the elusive duo of Big and Little. Like all good things, leaves you hungry for more.