Marlene: A Novel of Marlene Dietrich

I must admit I have become a sucker for C.W.Gortner's writing. I loved CHANEL, and I loved MARLENE. With Gortner's novels it is hard to discern where fact ends and fiction begins because his prose is so seamless and his research impeccable. I always remember reading about Marlene Dietrich in Photoplay and Modern Screen when I was very young and an avid movie fan. I remember hearing my parents speak about her (and not necessarily in the most glowing terms,) and I used to see her perform on early TV shows. I must admit I was not impressed. I also remember seeing so many of the Dietrich parodies done by myriad comediennes. But for me this book was a revelation. The blending of history and biography and the description of prewar Germany and the rise of Hitler was so well written you could almost hear the music in the cafes, and view the catastrophic events as they were happening because the descriptions were seen through Marlene's eyes. I never knew how active she was in the USO, entertaining the troops during WWII. Even if you weren't a Marlene fan to begin with, you will be won over with admiration for how true to herself she remained and how loyal she was to her friends and lovers. . HIghly recommended.

Maria Magdalena Dietrich was born into a life of genteel poverty, her mother’s proud family connections brought low by her father’s early death and a subsequent – and ever-present – lack of funds. Destined for life as a concert violinist, as a teenager she chafes against the moral restrictions imposed by her formidable mother. For while Maria Magdalena loves the violin, she yearns for something more, a chance to explore the burgeoning opportunities both personal and professional promised by the siren song emanating from the decadence of post-war Berlin, where the moral fiber that once defined the nation crumbles with the fall of the Kaiser and the dawn of the fledgling Weimar Republic. It is within the decadence and hedonism of the cabarets and clubs of 1920s Berlin that Maria – now known as Marlene – finds the beginnings of her voice and image as she strives to become an actress. A chance encounter with a mid-level studio executive lands her a coveted screen test, eventually leading to her breakthrough role as Lola-Lola, the seductive cabaret girl who leads men astray in The Blue Angel. Her partnership with director Joseph von Sternberg makes her a star, and as the Dietrich legend rises, the lines between reality and glossy celluloid fantasy begin to blur. As her once-beloved homeland descends into the madness of National Socialism and her personal and professional relationships become fraught with tension, Marlene is faced with a choice. Will she crumble under the weight…

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