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Goddess

The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe

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Goddess

By: Anthony Summers
Narrated by: Donna Postel
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About this listen

Marilyn Monroe, born to deprivation and a series of foster homes, became an acting legend of the 20th century. She married famous men, Joe DiMaggio and playwright Arthur Miller, and her many lovers included President John F. Kennedy. Her death, at 36, is a mystery that remains unsolved to this day.

Anthony Summers interviewed 600 people for this book, which reveals unknown truths, some funny, some very sad, about this brilliant but troubled woman. First to gain access to the files of Monroe's last psychiatrist, he throws light on Monroe's troubled psyche and her addiction to medications. He establishes once and for all that she was intimately involved with John and Robert Kennedy, who probably covered up the circumstances of her death.

©1985 Anthony Summers (P)2017 Tantor Entertainment & Celebrities Entertainment & Performing Arts Film & TV Women Celebrity Funny Thought-Provoking

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Critic reviews

“A remarkable performance…. The ghost of Marilyn Monroe cries out in these pages." ( New York Times)
All stars
Most relevant  
This is genuinely the only book you’ll ever need to read or listen to on the icon. It covers her early life and later years in great detail and has been updated since publication to reflect the recent (at the time) news items about her. It flew by.

The definite book on Marilyn Monroe

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A very interesting story which gives you an insight as to how insecure and naive Marilyn was. On the politics side so much treachery with drink and drugs and secrecy thrown in. Marylyn was on a downward slope from day one. So sad.

Excellent

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Lots of detail confirming what is already in the public domain. This poor lady and her life were a hot mess. Some weird pronunciations of commonplace words by the narrator which are mildly irritating.

Insightful

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Great performance, great story and perfect for any fans! Learnt so much and would definitely recommend for any Hollywood fans

Loved it! A must

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The story of a woman who we all think we knew. But thin book is an eye opener. The poor girl never reached her full potential. was used by men right up to the last few hours of her life. Excellent listen.

Heartbreaking story

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Anthony Summers is by far the best investigative biographer - he leaves no stone unturned in the story of Marilyn.
I bought the original book in 1986 and this version jettisons the tragedy bang up to date!
Why this icon has not received justice is a disgrace and the new information points the destruction of her in only one direction. I hope that when Judith Campbell’s files became public in 2025, the authorities have a fresh investigation. An absolutely brilliant biography dedicated to finding out the truth.

A truly stunning account Marilyn Monroe

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Very credible, well documented. I love the tone, which is never patronising or judgemental.

it's great

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Goddess is an amazing book as it details, pretty much, Marilyn's entire life. The undoubted desire to become a star and a much loved star at that. The thirst for knowledge and learning, I believe Marilyn was way more intelligent and had so much more to offer, above and beyond most people's interpretation which is as a blond bimbo sex goddess. The portrayal of the rich and famous, the powerful and almighty, shown to be what they are still today and have been since the day dot.... nothing more than self entitled, sanctimonious, corrupt individuals in positions of power and wealth, that use and abuse each and every one of us in some way, shape or form, within the playground of life!

The book is slow and hard in some places but no different to any other book or film, you have to set the characters in their correct place and position so as to understand the bigger picture in this game of chess that we call life.

The narration was fantastic, clear and concise and it enables the reader/listener to go along with Marilyn for the ride. To feel her happiness, her pain, her frustration and to a certain degree her own self entitlement.

All in all, I massively enjoyed this portrayal of Marilyn Monroes life and unfortunately, just like the JFK assassination or Jack The Ripper, we will never ever get to the absolute concrete truth of things, only speculation and conspiracy theory. I guess that is some of the attraction.

Goddess! Yes she was....

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A long winded way to come to the conclusion that politicians have affairs with famous people, lie and hangout with gangsters who manipulate them to their own ends.
Who’d thought it.

Meh…

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Poor Marilyn. Starting life damaged but able and willing to use her charms to achieve greatness, her end was that of every woman who has been used and reduced by men. Some of the scenes painted by the author are really sad and disturbing. It’s interesting to learn what a degraded figure she ended up as, but it’s not gratifying. Thank goodness her public persona shines on in the public’s collective hearts.

Illuminating and Sad

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