i began reading this book in the summer! it’s massive and so detailed. a great recommendation to anybody who loves old hollywood. it might be one of the most tragic books that i’ve read. underneath the glamour, riches, romance is an absolute bitter tragedy. it’s almost like a shakespeare play. this isn’t your usual ‘‘tell-all’’. it focuses heavily on dietrich’s work, almost every page is commending her for her beauty, hard work, and her creation of ‘dietrich’. it’s quite telling how she refers to dietrich as ‘dietrich’. maria (her daughter) is a remarkable woman and i believe every word. she takes good care to not tarnish dietrichs image and yet at the same time condems her for the utmost horros she allowed to take place. towards the end, as the glamour fades and too does those close to her. is left a broken old woman, stuck in her salad days, decaying and rotting. remove hollywood and the wealth - it’s a tale of a smothering, narcissistic, cruel woman and her daughter’s survival.
sorry to babble on - it’s a great read and i thought i’d recommend :))
I’ve probably read over a hundred biographies on old Hollywood stars, and Maria Riva’s bio on her mom, Dietrich, is one I’ve read multiple times.
Loretta Young’s daughter also wrote a really good biography/memoir, so I’d recommend that one next.
i have a book on jean harlow next so i’ll add young to the list.
what did you think of riva’s book? and how marlene came across? i’d love to know