MARILYN MONROE, DONALD SPOTO BIOGRAPHY (1993)
by Alan Ewing
There are countless books and biographies on Marilyn Monroe written from various angles. Some are well worth the time, while others have simply been churned out. For an introduction to Marilyn's life, unfettered with conspiracy theories or fanciful notions of her private life, often sourced from those with a grudge, then for clarify and painstaking research then the Donald Spoto biography has to be up amongst the best. The work is respectful to her name and seeks to find the real route that her life took, both onstage and offstage.
Without wishing to give a detailed commentary on the book, for that would prevent the reader from making their own mind up about it, I would say that the sources are sound. There are references to sources at the back of the work, with interviews and source material well-documented. The tone is respectful though manages to keep a step back from being over-adoring and thus ignoring fault lines in Marilyn's make-up as a human being. At the same time it manages to avoid sensationalism and exaggeration.
The book deals with all aspects of Marilyn's life from childhood and how it shaped her through to her death and all that surrounded it. In dealing with the latter, Spoto sets out his theories , based on circumstantial facts, as to the reasons why Marilyn came to an untimely end in the way that she did. Once again, I shall not expound upon these as to do so would spoil reading those encountering the book for the first time.
Overall, I would recommend this book for anybody wanting to learn more about Marilyn Monroe beyond the movies and work that she did. It does not disappoint and takes the reader on a concise journey into this extremely significant women. The study of Marilyn Monroe is essential for anyone that seeks to understand how women became emancipated. Her role in that during the 20th Century is second to none. Donald Spoto's Biography of her gives a great deal of insight into her life.
copyright dewysumox2018
Without wishing to give a detailed commentary on the book, for that would prevent the reader from making their own mind up about it, I would say that the sources are sound. There are references to sources at the back of the work, with interviews and source material well-documented. The tone is respectful though manages to keep a step back from being over-adoring and thus ignoring fault lines in Marilyn's make-up as a human being. At the same time it manages to avoid sensationalism and exaggeration.
The book deals with all aspects of Marilyn's life from childhood and how it shaped her through to her death and all that surrounded it. In dealing with the latter, Spoto sets out his theories , based on circumstantial facts, as to the reasons why Marilyn came to an untimely end in the way that she did. Once again, I shall not expound upon these as to do so would spoil reading those encountering the book for the first time.
Overall, I would recommend this book for anybody wanting to learn more about Marilyn Monroe beyond the movies and work that she did. It does not disappoint and takes the reader on a concise journey into this extremely significant women. The study of Marilyn Monroe is essential for anyone that seeks to understand how women became emancipated. Her role in that during the 20th Century is second to none. Donald Spoto's Biography of her gives a great deal of insight into her life.
copyright dewysumox2018
