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 :))
You must log in or register to comment.
I don’t know would this be of interest to you but I heard an interesting interview with a German singer this week and much of it is her account of the conversations she had with Dietrich: https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22323263/
amazing! thank you so much. :)))
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
Thanks for that summary. Just put it on my TBR list.
Rory Flynn wrote about her father Errol.
Thanks - very interested in Marlene in the past couple of years, so maybe I’ll check it out. The novel that sparked my interest interest was Delayed Rays of a Star by Amanda Lee Koe, which I’d recommend.
is that the book based on the pic with marlene, anna wong, and the nazi?
That’s the one.
i’d give it a read but lord knows i need a break from marlene. i went from adoring the bitch to hating her haha! want to read the jean harlow bombshell book - maybe after that i shall read your suggestion. thanks :)
I read it a couple of years ago. Great book, but also kind of disturbing. I felt so bad for her daughter.
her poor daughter! she had the best and worst life it seems. glad she got over her demons. it’s interesting to see marlene who when young was cold and aloof to being in her 60s and being out of control and seriously unwell