The Marilyn Monroe Century - by Joshua John Miller & M a Fortin (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Published to celebrate what would have been Marilyn Monroe's 100th birthday, this lavish book showcases photographs by the legendary Bernard of Hollywood (Dr. Bruno Bernard) that document her transformation from Norma Jean to Marilyn Monroe, and includes never-before-seen photographs and diary entries

The Marilyn Monroe Century is a landmark tribute to one of the most enduring icons of the 20th century. Lushly produced for fans and collectors alike, this is both a celebration of Monroe's centennial and a definitive portrait of her life in front of--and behind--the camera.

In 1999, the Museum of Modern Art declared Dr. Bruno Bernard's legendary photograph Marilyn in White--capturing Monroe on the 20th Century Fox backlot as her white dress billowed above a subway grate--the symbol of the century. This single image defined 1950s Hollywood glamour and continues to echo across pop culture in songs, films, artworks, and more today.

The Marilyn Monroe Century presents never-before-seen images from the set of Billy Wilder's The Seven Year Itch (1955), offering an intimate window into the complex relationship between Bernard and Monroe. The book revisits their fractured friendship, their quiet reconciliation at her home as she announced her divorce from Joe DiMaggio, and her shocking act of rebellion in posing for a photograph that continues to enchant--and provoke--decades later.

More than a collection of photos, this is a sweeping visual biography. Through Bernard's lens--and thoughtfully supplemented by the work of other photographers--the book traces Norma Jean's transformation into Marilyn Monroe. Personal diary entries from Bernard and commentary from modern Hollywood voices, including Sean Baker, director of the Academy Award-winning Anora, lend new context and insight.

About the Author

Joshua John Miller is a novelist, actor, and director. With partner Mark Fortin, he cocreated the hit USA/Netflix series Queen of the South and cowrote and produced Sony's critically acclaimed The Final Girls. He is producing the forthcoming Trapeze, based on the diary by Anaïs Nin, with Fortin, Angelina Jolie, and Pablo Larraín. While an undergrad at Yale University, he published his first novel, The Mao Game. His writing has appeared in Harper's Bazaar and Esquire. Miller is completing his second novel, I'll Be Your Mirror. Mark Fortin was born in Montreal, Québec, and graduated from Emerson College (BFA) and the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University (MFA). He and his partner, Joshua John Miller, wrote and produced The Final Girls and created Netflix's Queen of the South. They are producing the forthcoming Trapeze, based on the diary by Anaïs Nin, with Miller, Angelina Jolie, and Pablo Larraín. He is also at work on another book, Little Death, about the late writer/director James Bridges. Dr. Bruno Bernard was the most sought-after photographer of Hollywood's Golden Age. He was the first still photographer to be honored by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1984 with an exhibition of 150 of his photographs of such luminaries as Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Gregory Peck, John Wayne, Marlene Dietrich, and many others.