Gail Crowther's 'Marilyn and Her Books' Explores the Actress's Literary Life

A new book by Gail Crowther, 'Marilyn and Her Books,' examines Marilyn Monroe's life through her personal library, published by Corsair. Inspired by a list of Monroe's estate sale books, Crowther explores the actress's reading habits and relationships with writers. Monroe, born June 1, 1926, remains a mythologized figure. The book highlights five significant volumes from her collection: Constantin Stanislavski's 'An Actor Prepares' (1936), which she used while studying method acting at the Actors Studio in New York under Lee Strasberg in 1955; Anton Chekhov's 'Plays,' reflecting her admiration for the playwright and connection to his nephew Michael Chekhov, her acting coach; Sigmund Freud's 'The Psychopathology of Everyday Life' (1901), which she read during psychiatric treatment and turned down a film role about Freud out of respect for his daughter Anna; Tennessee Williams' 'A Streetcar Named Desire' (1947), which she studied closely and performed parts of in private lessons; and Carson McCullers' 'The Ballad of the Sad Cafe' (1951), with Monroe and McCullers sharing a friendship that included a meeting with Isak Dinesen. Crowther's book delves into Monroe's intellectual curiosity, challenging her 'dumb blonde' stereotype.