June 1, 2026, will mark the 100th year of Marilyn Monroe's birth! She was one of a kind and way ahead of her time! She is being celebrated in print, as well as in many other ways, and one of the best books to celebrate the iconic Ms. Monroe is Lynn Cullen's When We Were Brilliant
In this addictive read we get to know Marilyn as a breathtakingly beautiful and talented young woman who was photographed by many male photographers from her earliest days as a model to her memorable career as the superstar of her day. She knew how to use those cameras and the men behind them to her advantage. That is, until she saw there was a way to connect with someone who might really understand her.
Marilyn had seen a photo essay of Marlene Dietrich called "an appreciation". She studied the photos and then reached out to the young woman who took them, Eve Arnold. Eve, who was also a wife and mother, was making a name for herself as a member of the Magnum photo agency. Lynn Cullen imagines what the relationship between these two women might have been like.
As they slowly become acquainted and then become friends and allies, Ms. Cullen takes us through the ups and downs of their careers, Marilyn's marriages, and Eve's trouble at home. We feel like we are on the sidelines watching and cheering them on and hoping for the best for these two remarkable women!
If you are already a Marilyn fan, then be sure to pick up a copy when it's released in January, 2026! If you're not a Marilyn fan already, Ms. Cullen's book will make you one!
Thank you to NetGalley for the DRC!
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| Photo by Eve Arnold copyright Magnum Photos |
