When We Were Brilliant

By: Lynn Cullen

Narrated by: Rachel L. Jacobs

"AN HOMAGE TO FEMALE FRIENDSHIP AND AMBITION." —LA TIMES

They were an unlikely pair—a blond bombshell and a photographer determined to be taken seriously—but Marilyn Monroe and Eve Arnold would make a deal that would change their lives in this dazzling new novel from the national bestselling author of Mrs. Poe and The Woman with the Cure.

In 1952, Norma Jeane Baker follows documentary photographer Eve Arnold into a powder room on the night they first meet. She has a proposition for her. Norma Jeane created Marilyn Monroe to be photographed, and she wants Eve to do it. Eve is better than anyone she’s seen at revealing a person’s inner truth. Together they can help each other. Together, she says, they can make something brilliant.

Skeptical of this cipher of a young woman, Eve demurs. She’s looking for more serious subjects than this ambitious starlet. But she keeps getting drawn back into Marilyn’s orbit, and the women come to recognize something in each other—something fundamental. Nothing will get in the way of what they want, and when Marilyn’s star takes off to teetering heights, neither will ever be the same.

A lavish and transporting novel, When We Were Brilliant captures the halcyon days of an icon and the grit of women determining their own futures as it explores the exceptional and complicated friendship between Marilyn Monroe and Eve Arnold.

Norma Jean insight

What I liked about this book is that it really made me have an understanding of who Norma Jean was and how it created and molded the Marilyn Monroe we know. I now want to read more about her from a biography standpoint.

A Glimpse Into Life as a Woman in the 1950s

I’m a photographer, myself and a big fan of Eve Arnold‘s work. I’ve also loved seeing all of the various work covering Marilyn Monroe‘s life, so when I saw his novel, I thought I’d give it a shot and I’m glad that I did, although it did irk me from time to time.

I was struck by the negative descriptions of people’s appearances. Marilyn Monroe is de described multiple times as being fat or having a flat face. It really bothered me to hear these characterizations coming from the “character“ of Eve Arnold. Was this based on statements that she had said? I hope not.

In the end, as someone who enjoys the arts and history, and personal stories, I did enjoy this book and recommend it to others.