This as the title suggests is another photo book on Marilyn but it is really well done, grouping together photos with the same theme and often from the same photo sessions for each section.There’s some rarely seen images of a young Marilyn sand skiing; practising yoga; a make-up test; at dance lessons; singing lessons; drama lessons with Natasha Lytess and various pin-up and publicity shoots in the lead up to her big break.
But the photo history goes back even further with childhood photos and Marilyn’s mother Gladys in the 1920’s.As the pages turn we see images from Marilyn’s films and publicity tours and the photos that surrounded them all covered in great detail with a great choice of images, some of which will be new to some people and therefore pleasing to the casual fans as well as the more serious collectors of all things Marilyn.
The text of the book offers a very brief, yet at the same time, revealing insight into Marilyn’s story, and while at times seems based upon contemplative speculation, it is always respectful and keeps it simple leaving it open for the reader to decide on matters up for discussion. Oh, and there’s a couple of quotes credited to Marilyn that she never said.I think it’s a lovely book, the photos are clear and crisp and there’s plenty of them so it’s a joy to pick up and browse through.
By Fraser Penney
