"The Marilyn Monroe Encyclopedia"
The Marilyn Encyclopedia is, according
to its jacket notes, "the most comprehensive book about
(Monroe's) extraordinary life and legacy ever published."
This may easily be true--it is incredibly, insanely detailed.
Author Adam Victor has taken every conceivable source of information--admittedly
including Internet rumors and Hollywood gossip among the more
well-documented tidbits--distilled them down to alphabetical
entries, and cross-referenced them to within an inch of their
lives. While the casual fan can check out Marilyn's Look covers
or a list of the screenwriters she worked with, hardcore devotees
can look up such vital information as the name of the first restaurant
she and Joe DiMaggio ate at on their honeymoon (a controversy--was
it the restaurant at the Hot Springs Hotel or at the Clifton
Inn?) or the name of Marilyn's poodle (Maf Honey). The meticulous
cross-referencing makes The Encyclopedia an extremely enjoyable
browser's read, allowing the reader to hop from her disdain for
underwear to her working relationship with John Huston to the
fact that she never had much trouble with gambling--all with
the flip of a page. This encyclopedia of course contains a rich
assortment of photos: posed studio portraits, pinups, and candid
shots vie for space throughout the tome. Despite his obvious
devotion as a fan, Victor is remarkably evenhanded in his choice
of the quotes and anecdotes sprinkled throughout the book. The
reader cannot help but be left with the impression that, for
all her magical appeal, she may well have been a trying person
to deal with on a day-to-day basis. This is the perfect book
for the dedicated fan who wants to know everything--no, really,
everything--about Monroe. --Ali Davis |
