A lush, dramatic biographical novel of one of the most glamorous and alluring legends of Hollywood's golden age, Marlene Dietrich--from the gender-bending cabarets of Weimar Berlin to the lush film studios of Hollywood, a sweeping story of passion, glamour, ambition, art, and war from the author of Mademoiselle Chanel.
Raised in genteel poverty after the First World War, Maria Magdalena Dietrich dreams of a life on the stage. When a budding career as a violinist is cut short, the willful teenager vows to become a singer, trading her family's proper, middle-class society for the free-spirited, louche world of Weimar Berlin's cabarets and drag balls. With her sultry beauty, smoky voice, seductive silk cocktail dresses, and androgynous tailored suits, Marlene performs to packed houses and becomes entangled in a series of stormy love affairs that push the boundaries of social convention.
For the beautiful, desirous Marlene, neither fame nor marriage and motherhood can cure her wanderlust. As Hitler and the Nazis rise to power, she sets sail for America. Rivaling the success of another European import, Greta Garbo, Marlene quickly becomes one of Hollywood's leading ladies, starring with legends such as Gary Cooper, John Wayne, and Cary Grant. Desperate for her return, Hitler tries to lure her with dazzling promises. Marlene instead chooses to become an American citizen, and after her new nation is forced into World War II, she tours with the USO, performing for thousands of Allied troops in Europe and Africa.
But one day she returns to Germany. Escorted by General George Patton himself, Marlene is heartbroken by the war's devastation and the evil legacy of the Third Reich that has transformed her homeland and the family she loved.
An enthralling and insightful account of this extraordinary legend, Marlene reveals the inner life of a woman of grit, glamour, and ambition who defied convention, seduced the world, and forged her own path on her own terms.
About the Author :
C. W. Gortner is the author of many bestselling historical novels--including Mademoiselle Chanel--which have been published in more than twenty countries. He lives in San Francisco.
Bernadette Dunne is the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and has twice been nominated for the prestigious Audie Award. She studied at the Royal National Theatre in London and the Studio Theater in Washington, DC, and has appeared at the Kennedy Center and off Broadway.
Review :
"Cinematic in both scope and story, this sweeping reconception of the professionally and personally captivating Dietrich will appeal to both film buffs and fans of historical fiction."
-- "Booklist (starred review)"
"Gortner brings another fascinating icon to life through an engrossing first-person narrative that allows readers a deep look into Marlene Dietrich's tumultuous inner world. This intriguing tale will have readers running for copies of Dietrich's films. Gortner portrays the world of German cabarets and the glitz and glamour of Hollywood's Golden Age with aplomb."
-- "RT Book Reviews (4 stars)"
"Gortner skillfully evokes the cross-dressing, sexually fluid atmosphere of the seedy nightclubs that helped Marlene define her unique appeal; the scenes are lively and authentic."
-- "Kirkus Reviews"
"Narrator Bernadette Dunne's sensitive, sophisticated narration is ideally suited to this fascinating novelization of the life of Maria Magdalena Dietrich...Dunne applies a lilting touch with just a hint of German-accented English, with much of her performance closely approximating what listeners may recall from Dietrich's films and recordings...This richly detailed effort provides dramatic insight into Dietrich's strong and complex personality."
-- "AudioFile"
