In "Marilyn Monroe: A Photographic Life" by Jenna Glatzer, readers are treated to an intimate and captivating journey through the life of one of Hollywood's most enduring icons. Through a combination of iconic photographs, rare memorabilia, and intimate stories, Glatzer offers readers a deeper understanding of the enigmatic star behind the glamorous façade.

From Marilyn's humble beginnings as Norma Jeane Mortenson to her transformation into the iconic "Blonde Bombshell," Glatzer delves into the complexities of Marilyn's life with depth and sensitivity. Readers are invited to explore Marilyn's troubled childhood, her early struggles in Hollywood, and her meteoric rise to fame, all through the lens of rare photographs and personal anecdotes.

What sets "Marilyn Monroe: A Photographic Life" apart is its meticulous attention to detail and wealth of archival material. From Marilyn's birth and marriage certificates to handwritten letters and personal photographs, Glatzer offers readers a treasure trove of memorabilia that brings Marilyn's story to life in vivid detail. Each page is filled with fascinating insights and glimpses into Marilyn's world, providing readers with a deeper appreciation for the woman behind the legend.

Throughout the book, Glatzer highlights Marilyn's resilience, tenacity, and unwavering desire for love and acceptance. From her secret marriage to her early modelling days to her tumultuous relationships with Joe DiMaggio and Arthur Miller, readers are given a glimpse into the highs and lows of Marilyn's personal life, offering a more nuanced portrait of the iconic star.

"Marilyn Monroe: A Photographic Life" is not just a book about Marilyn Monroe; it's a celebration of her enduring legacy and the impact she continues to have on popular culture. Glatzer's insightful commentary and stunning visuals make this book a must-read for fans of Marilyn Monroe and anyone interested in the golden age of Hollywood.

In conclusion, "Marilyn Monroe: A Photographic Life" is a captivating and beautifully curated tribute to one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century. Jenna Glatzer's meticulous research and heartfelt storytelling ensure that Marilyn's legacy continues to shine bright for generations to come.

I loved this book more than I thought i would
The photos show how stunningly beautiful she was throughout every stage of her life.
A definite must for all fans

This was a great coffee table book but over all I am not sure how memorable it was. It doesn’t stand out against the sea of other Marilyn books I’ve read; despite having the “treasure” of pictures. Even the pictures themselves weren’t anything I haven’t seen before, despite being marketed as never before seen. Overall, it was a fine book and I liked it enough because I like the Marilyn (although the early chapters were written in a way that made it seem like the author didn’t which was odd.)

So many books are written about Marilyn Monroe. All sadly focus on her death. This is a refreshing photographic gem that is about her life. Its relatively short but highly entertaining woth sunning photos alongside real life quotes raken from a variety of sources
A 5 star book a must for any bookcase. Thank you so much netgallery and publisher and author.

MARILYN MONROE
1926 — 1962

Marilyn Monroe by Jenna Glatzer is a wonderful book and packed with so much information about this a girl who was born 1st June 1926 and named Norma Jeane Mortenson no one knew her until she who became an American film star and known as a “Blonde Bombshell.” and then changed her name to Marilyn Monroe, She loved the camera, and she loved it right back.
In this beautiful book we get to know the enigmatic star through iconic and rare photos, her films she starred in, her intimate stories of who she was dating etc, and removable memorabilia etc, etc.
This book contains:

Birth and marriage certificates
Handwritten letters
Certificate of conversion to Judaism before her marriage to Arthur Miller
Screen Actors Guild membership card
Picture of Marilyn sketched by Jane Russell
Watercolour Marilyn painted for JFK
Childhood photos
Shots and ads from her earliest modeling days
Wedding photos
Images of those who knew her, including Groucho Marx, Ella Fitzgerald, Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and so many more
Marilyn’s favourite image of herself, taken in 1956

What a Brilliant book this was and a must have for any Marilyn Monroe new or old. Plus, a great Christmas or Birthday Present......

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Chartwell Books for my ARC.

This is a great book for Marilyn fans. I didn’t learn much new information but I’ve read a number of biographies on her. There are lots of great photos. I won’t be publicly reviewing the book because it was deleted before I could finish it but what I read was well done.

Wow this book is a definite must for Marilyn fans. It’s full of photographs and accounts of people who met her before she was famous and whilst she was a huge star.
I learnt a lot about about her early life and how she worked hard to get noticed by the film studios. How she would let photographers and gossip columnists know where she’d be and with whom! She definitely knew how to play the game!
I read The Girl by Michelle Morgan a few years ago, and knew that there was a whole lot more to Marilyn that the parts she played on the silver screen. This books also confirms that she was a very serious woman who wanted to be taken seriously, and there’s lots of anecdotes about this, and comments from people who knew and liked her at the time.
I loved discovering how she loved meeting her fans and enjoyed getting to know a little bit about them, like talking to cab drivers or meeting soldiers after a performance during the Korea War.
The author has packed a lot into this book, so it’s a must if you’re a fan, especially as there are fabulous rare photographs and reproductions of frameable memorabilia as well.

I am a huge fan of Hollywood biographies and thought I knew everything I needed to know about Marilyn Monroe - and I was wrong. Not only did this book tell her story in a concise and compassionate way, I also learned new information. There are also many photos that I had never seen before. The book is very visually appealing and is a worthwhile read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Chartwell Books for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.

This provides a chronological illustrated biography of Marilyn Monroe's life. From her birth certificate and images from her childhood it covers and details Marilyn's early life. It even includes images from her marriages to Joe DiMaggio and Arthur Miller. This details all but the not-so-lovely times. It's an amazing compilation of Marilyn's career and success in becoming a legend.

Well researched. Thoroughly enjoyed reading the interesting facts of Marilyn Monroe's life. The photo selections were well placed within. 5 stars and a must read for all Marilyn fans.
Thanks to Netgalley and Chartwell books for an ARC in return for my honest review

I really enjoyed this.

A great short read for fans of Marilyn and people who want to learn more about the most famous 1950s woman alike. Filled with useful easy to digest information, and beautiful pictures of Marilyn throughout her entire life, other than informative this book also manages to respect Marilyn as a person which is something that you'll sadly find a lot of other sources of information about her fail to do. A great gift for fans of Monroe.

The confident smiles and poses depict a beautiful and talented star on the rise in this wonderfully compelling biography. It is packed full of wonderful photographs and takes you through her life, from her beginnings, with a seemingly neglectful and disinterested mother, to her untimely death at the age of thirty six. The camera loves Marilyn Monroe but she has a complicated life and her struggle to balance happiness with her fame appears to have been just out of reach. An intriguing but sad portrayal of an icon. Thank you to Net Galley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I received this book as an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity.

This is a thoughtful and concise book about Marilyn Monroe. The beautiful photos of Marilyn are what truly make this book enjoyable.

Very good book with pictures for the Marilyn fan. Gives a condensed version of her younger years and how she got into show business, also mentioning her tragic young death. Loved all the pictures, some I'd not seen before. Received a copy from Netgalley for an honest review.

This book was interesting, but really serves as a cliff notes version of Marilyns life. Obviously its hard to tell ones life story in a relatively concise book, and there is a ton to cover when we are talking about MM and the life she led. But the book really doesn't tell anything other than what is already a matter of factual record. It does not reveal, or attempt to reveal, anything about the reasoning and the causes for some of the crazy life turns that she went through. It appears that she made a lot of bad choices, as a woman that apparently did not feel much self esteem, and thus, chose bad men. But why would she stray when she was in a relationship that could have been supportive and much more permanent than what she was used to? Overall, a sad portrayal of a very bright star, so sad that her days were much too short.

Either way, this book entices you to know more about an all-time legend, but ultimately does not help you get to know MM or why she was who she was, and did what she did.

This was an amazing biography of Marilyn’s life. I’ve read so many, but this was the shortest yet most thorough one I’ve ever read. What makes this book better than the rest are the photos. The photos are so large and life like, and there are so many. I really like how the photos are descriptive and placed throughout the book and coincide with the story being told on that page. It truly makes you feel like you’re living this life with her. The photos bring the story to life, and when the story ends, as Marilyn did, in 1962, you feel a piece of you has died as well. Her story ended way too soon. This author did a great job of acknowledging all theories about the cause of her death, but didn’t go into too much detail on any one theory. The author just leaves it up to the reader to believe in their own theory while mentioning how the police concluded their investigation. I also liked how the author acknowledged DiMaggio’s never ending devotion to her at the end. Which was the one thing that never wavered from the moment they met. Marilyn was so blessed to have been loved so dearly and deeply by that one man, no matter what. Everyone deserves a Joe DiMaggio…..

The book would be lovely as a coffee table piece. It includes beautiful photos of Marilyn as a child and into adulthood. That being said, there were a few comments that just didn’t seem to fit into Marilyn’s story. Specifically the ones of her lying about her life.

While it’s clear that the book is for anyone who is a Marilyn fan, there’s nothing new. If you’ve got all the other books, you have this one. Though, let’s be honest, how much can really be left unsaid when it comes to Monroe?

Still, it’s always good to read about her and its wonderful knowing her legacy as one of the best and most influential movie stars is still going strong.

Marilyn Monroe by Jenna Glatzer shows you all the ups and downs of the real person behind the glamour of Hollywood. Amazing how Marilyn Monroe still casts a spell on all of us. Beautiful pictures!

What a stunning look at an absolute icon of a woman.
Marilyn was a star in her own right, but we often only see a few versions of her over and over again it seems.

Glazer has created a beautiful retrospective of not just Marilyn and her stardom, but the beauty of regular Norma Jean too, which is often overlooked or understated I think.

Her image is iconic as a 50's pin up, as you can see with such stunning photographs, but in this excellent collection, you can see much more than the traditional white dress over the air vent.

This is a book I didn’t want to finish. Indeed the final chapter was left by me for about 3 weeks.

Books about movies and film stars do not usually grip my imagination or grab my attention, demanding to be read.

I love motion pictures and have always enjoyed seeing newly released films or catching my favourite actors on the big screen at the cinema.

For me Marilyn Monroe was an enigma, one of the first of several stars who have died, under tragic circumstances. With a desire to learn more about the ‘real’ Marilyn I was drawn to this book.

I have learned a great deal in the process. Above all I have realised a lack of knowledge I have judged her image unfairly. The author has done a great deal of research and found testimony of friends and associates to build up a non-judgemental account of her life. From humble beginnings and early struggles to become an actress. Consequently it is clear that much of the demons and frailties surrounding her relationships and inability to present herself “ready” on set are understandable.

The book is worth getting for the well documented photographs which accompany it. But is the progressive and well written text that will remain with me longer.

Marilyn was a beautiful individual in her heart and towards others. For example GIs in Korea and children in general. As well as a beautiful model and actress which the many photos of her demonstrate.

But it is the parson this book has enabled me to see that means I would encourage others to read it for themselves. Certainly, I am less critical of her shortcomings and feel less comfortable in judging others based on headlines and media coverage.

I am grateful to this book on taking me on this journey. I feel it is unbiased and journalistically sound. It isn’t pulling punches or seeking to excuse but by seeking to tell the story it reveals information where the reader can decide.