Goddess

The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe

By: Anthony Summers

Narrated by: Donna Postel

Marilyn Monroe, born to deprivation and a series of foster homes, became an acting legend of the 20th century. She married famous men, Joe DiMaggio and playwright Arthur Miller, and her many lovers included President John F. Kennedy. Her death, at 36, is a mystery that remains unsolved to this day.

Anthony Summers interviewed 600 people for this book, which reveals unknown truths, some funny, some very sad, about this brilliant but troubled woman. First to gain access to the files of Monroe's last psychiatrist, he throws light on Monroe's troubled psyche and her addiction to medications. He establishes once and for all that she was intimately involved with John and Robert Kennedy, who probably covered up the circumstances of her death.

©1985 Anthony Summers (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

“A remarkable performance…. The ghost of Marilyn Monroe cries out in these pages." ( New York Times)

Absolutely Amazing

So many unanswered questions. So many insights. Such injustice. May she live on and her story never forgotten.

Sadness

Marilyn’s was a sad story all-around. This went into a lot of detail but tended to be slightly redundant toward the end. I wonder if we’ll ever really know what happened to her causing her death—she certainly had serious problems in many areas of her life but maybe she could have found recovery. Maybe that didn’t much happen in the ‘60’s. There were so many apparent cover-ups that make it seem like we never got the whole story. I admire her strengths and her ability to overcome rough beginnings but wish she could have fully overcome. Sad story.

Classic

I read it in high school. Still the best book on Marilyn of the many. Highly recommended.

Grabs your attention.

I really liked this book and I feel better informed about Marilyn, her situation, and the times she lived in.
I would like to thank the author for the excellent and thorough citations for this book.
The narrator did a fantastic job. I love the "voice " she used for Marilyn. It's exactly how I pictured her.
Bravo.

Facts that fill in other accounts.

This book is a must for anyone following the Kennedys and that era. Many details of Marilyn’s life that I was unaware of. Great listen!