Legend: The Life and Death of Marilyn Monroe [Paperback]

Fred Lawrence Guiles (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1991

The definitive biography.—Los Angeles Times

Product Details

• Paperback: 536 pages
• Publisher: Scarborough House (April 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812885252
• ISBN-13: 978-0812885255
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #460,524 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #58 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( M ) > Monroe, Marilyn

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars blonde, beautiful, and doomed..., August 20, 2003

By 

Elizabeth Roberts-Zibbel (bowling green ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Legend: The Life and Death of Marilyn Monroe (Paperback)

I seem to have read the Marilyn Monroe biograhpies backward, because so many of the ones I've already read (including Norman Mailer's, Gloria Steinem's, and Barbara Leaming's) used Guiles' _Legend_ (or his first Marilyn book, _Norma Jean_) as a reference and guide. This book is truly incredible for its in-depth look into a confusing, tragic life; especially since Marilyn often embellished her past.

I especially enjoyed Guiles' treatment of her decline. He never judged; he was sympathetic and kind about her lateness, dependence on drugs, and occasional fits of bitchiness. Unlike other biographers, Guiles didn't place all that much emphasis on her barbituate addiction, which I felt was kind of refreshing. Her death was handled eloquently, steering the reader toward a suicide verdict, carefully negating other reports.

I have only a couple of minor complaints; I think if I could I would give the book 4 1/2 stars. Twice near the beginning of his biography, Guiles points out that Marilyn was "not naturally pretty." He said it about Norma Jeane when she was starting to model, and again about Marilyn after some of her plastic surgery. How could he say that? It just seems like an odd statement to make about the greatest sex symbol of all time, especially because of her vulnerable, luminous quality. Also, regarding her marriage to Jim Dougherty, it seemed that Guiles took every word Jim said as gospel, when he would have as much reason as Marilyn to embellish that situation to his benefit (and no more proof than she had, and of course when Jim wrote his book, she was already dead).

On the whole, this is the best book on Marilyn Monroe, comparable only with Donald Spoto's biography. I recommend it to all readers, not simply people who are already Marilyn fans.

23 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Speaking as fellow Platinum Blonde this book was...., February 6, 2000

By 

"kimstarseventeen" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Legend: The Life and Death of Marilyn Monroe (Paperback)

Awesome! I loved every page, I read with a desire! This book had so much information on Marilyn Monroe it was scary. It gives the 411 on all her stories and how she came to be-and die- one of the most glamourus women in Amercan Culture ever! The devine Ms. M's fairy tale started out by chance, and gives light on how Marilyn really was and how she came to be. I would recomend this book to everyone!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Wasn't that good, September 19, 2008

By 

Jemaha (California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Legend: The Life and Death of Marilyn Monroe (Paperback)

I am Marilyn fan and I have read a few books this one was okay it was more focused on her movies but it was okay still my favorites, I recommend for Marilyn fans are the best one is from Barbara Leaming it was a gift from my sister very good book with GREAT pictures,then Marilyn Monroe Confidential by Lena Pepitone and William Stadiem and finally "My story" by Andrea Dworkin.