Marilyn Monroe Slept Here

This section is comprised of books that are generally memoir-style books by men who claim to have had an intimate relationship with Marilyn Monroe. A few of the books are accounts of Marilyn's relationships with men (or a particular man), written by a third party.


Collins
I Remember Marilyn by g. Peter Collins
Publication: The Vestal Press, LTD. 1995. USA
ISBN: 0-96336-782-x.
Details: Hardback. 289 pages.
Contains: 8 photos (b&w).

I have a theory, and it goes something like this…

Late one night a group of Marilyn collectors are sitting around shooting the breeze. One fan - let's call him Fan A - puts-forth the idea that anything, no matter how bad, can be published as long as it has Marilyn Monroe as the subject. Au contraire, retorts Fan B. Bets are made. Money changes hands. The next night, Fan A pulls an all-nighter, pounding away at the keyboard. Five months later, I Remember Marilyn shows up in the bookstores…

Conover
Finding Marilyn by David Conover
Publication: Grosset & Dunlap. 1981. USA.
ISBN: 0-448-12020-8.
Details: Hardback. 199 pages.
Contains: Approx 70 photos (b&w).

David Conover stumbled upon Norma Jeane Dougherty in 1945, after being sent to the Radio Plane factory (where she worked) to take photographs of young women helping-out with the war effort. He was pleased enough with the results to request additional sittings with Norma Jeane, and to encourage her to contact Emmeline Snively at the Blue Book Modeling agency. All of this is recounted in Finding Marilyn, and it is certainly nice to have Conover's version of those events. The remainder of the book, however, is beyond camp. Not only does Conover use verbatim dialogue throughout the book, but he also describes completely unbelievable events (including many instances of Marilyn begging him to have sex with her). Then there's the troubling fact that he has no photographs of Marilyn taken after 1953, though he claims to have remained friends with her until her death in 1962. Given that he was a photographer by profession, this is a little hard to swallow. Still…the text may not be beautiful, but the photographs sure are.

De Dienes
Marilyn Mon Amour by Andre de Dienes
Publication: St. Martin's Press. 1985. USA.

ISBN: 0-312-51504-9.
Details: Hardback. 155 pages.
Contains: Over 180 photos (b&w).

Andre de Dienes was one of the early photographers of Norma Jeane Dougherty, coming after David Conover and Potter Hueth, but before the spate of cover appearances which were to mark her career as a still model. Marilyn Mon Amour is de Dienes' remembrance of his photo shoots with Norma Jeane, complete with the obligatory claim of sexual intimacy with her. Happily, the author devotes the bulk of the book to his spectacular photographic work, leaving the sexual escapades as a relatively minor side note.

De Dienes
Marilyn Mon Amour by Andre de Dienes
Publication: St. Martin's Press. 1985. USA.

ISBN: 0-312-03862-3
Details: Hardback. 155 pages.
Contains: Over 180 photos (b&w).

This is the softback edition of the hardback first edition. It differs from the British softback in that the spine of this one is white instead of black, and the text of the front cover says "The private album of Andre de Dienes her preferred photographer," instead of just "The private album of Andre de Dienes."

De Dienes
Marilyn Mon Amour by Andre de Dienes
Publication: Bracken. 1986. UK.

ISBN: 0-283-99337-5.
Details: Hardback. 155 pages.
Contains: Over 180 photos (b&w).

The British hardback edition. Cover text says "The private album of Andre de Dienes," but is otherwise identical to the U.S. edition. C.B.


Further Reading

Other books that, though listed under different categories (or not available to me at this time), are written by men who claim to have had an intimate relationship with Marilyn Monroe:

Violations of the Child Marilyn Monroe
by Her Psychiatrist Friend
The anonymous author of this book claims to have had an intimate relationship with Marilyn Monroe after meeting her at a party.

The Life and Curious Death of Marilyn Monroe
by Robert F. Slatzer
Robert Slatzer is the man who claims to have been secretly married to Marilyn for a short period back when she was a budding starlet. Some believe him, some don't: read the book and decide for yourself.

The Marilyn Files
by Robert F. Slatzer
Robert Slatzer's second book also contains claims regarding a relationship with Marilyn Monroe.


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Copyright © 1996, 1997 Kay Krewson. All rights reserved.