9780062471307
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Marlene audiobook

  • By: C. W. Gortner
  • Narrator: Bernadette Dunne
  • Category: Contemporary Women, Fiction
  • Length: 14 hours 31 minutes
  • Publisher: HarperAudio
  • Publish date: May 24, 2016
  • Language: English
  • (540 ratings)
(540 ratings)
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Marlene Audiobook Summary

A lush, dramatic biographical novel of one of the most glamorous and alluring legends of Hollywood’s golden age, Marlene Dietrich–from the gender-bending cabarets of Weimar Berlin to the lush film studios of Hollywood, a sweeping story of passion, glamour, ambition, art, and war from the author of Mademoiselle Chanel.

Raised in genteel poverty after the First World War, Maria Magdalena Dietrich dreams of a life on the stage. When a budding career as a violinist is cut short, the willful teenager vows to become a singer, trading her family’s proper, middle-class society for the free-spirited, louche world of Weimar Berlin’s cabarets and drag balls. With her sultry beauty, smoky voice, seductive silk cocktail dresses, and androgynous tailored suits, Marlene performs to packed houses and becomes entangled in a series of stormy love affairs that push the boundaries of social convention.

For the beautiful, desirous Marlene, neither fame nor marriage and motherhood can cure her wanderlust. As Hitler and the Nazis rise to power, she sets sail for America. Rivaling the success of another European import, Greta Garbo, Marlene quickly becomes one of Hollywood’s leading ladies, starring with legends such as Gary Cooper, John Wayne, and Cary Grant. Desperate for her return, Hitler tries to lure her with dazzling promises. Marlene instead chooses to become an American citizen, and after her new nation is forced into World War II, she tours with the USO, performing for thousands of Allied troops in Europe and Africa.

But one day she returns to Germany. Escorted by General George Patton himself, Marlene is heartbroken by the war’s devastation and the evil legacy of the Third Reich that has transformed her homeland and the family she loved.

An enthralling and insightful account of this extraordinary legend, Marlene reveals the inner life of a woman of grit, glamour, and ambition who defied convention, seduced the world, and forged her own path on her own terms.

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Marlene Audiobook Narrator

Bernadette Dunne is the narrator of Marlene audiobook that was written by C. W. Gortner

C. W. Gortner is the author of many bestselling historical novels–including Mademoiselle Chanel–which have been published in more than twenty countries. He lives in San Francisco.

About the Author(s) of Marlene

C. W. Gortner is the author of Marlene

Marlene Full Details

Narrator Bernadette Dunne
Length 14 hours 31 minutes
Author C. W. Gortner
Category
Publisher HarperAudio
Release date May 24, 2016
ISBN 9780062471307

Subjects

The publisher of the Marlene is HarperAudio. includes the following subjects: The BISAC Subject Code is Contemporary Women, Fiction

Additional info

The publisher of the Marlene is HarperAudio. The imprint is HarperAudio. It is supplied by HarperAudio. The ISBN-13 is 9780062471307.

Global Availability

This book is only available in the United States.

Goodreads Reviews

Julie

May 30, 2017

Marlene by C.W. Gortner is a 2016 William Morrow publication. I will admit up front that I did not realize this was a work of fiction, at first. I was a little disappointed since I was hoping for a traditional biography, but it was my own fault for not reading the synopsis carefully. I had not experienced this type of biographical fiction until recently, but I found it to be an intriguing way of telling a person’s life story. This one, though, was not a factual as I would have liked, with some suggestions being so incredible, I had to do a Google search to see if it was true. The information wasn’t necessarily outright false, since there is no way to disprove or validate it, so I suppose it’s up to the reader to decide what they want to believe… or not. I do understand this is a novel, and liberties were taken, I just wish I knew what was fact and what was fiction.Yet, it is obvious the author did his research, and not only does he know his subject, but he obviously admired her, and was true to her legacy. Despite my misunderstanding of the book’s format, I still found myself mesmerized by the story. Marlene was quite the character, and certainly lived life on her own terms, as much as she could. Her first -person narrative is often amusing, and I think it did capture the woman’s essence in some ways. She was bold, promiscuous, forthright, yet manipulative at times, loved to shock and offend, play games with people, and live large. But, she lived for herself, it seems, and only herself, even though she had a husband and daughter, she rarely saw or had much of a relationship with. Her feelings never seemed to run too deeply, in my opinion. Yet, she was refreshing in that ‘what you see, is what you get’ way, and of course she absolutely defined glamour. She was a trendsetter, and 'gender bender', and was well ahead of her time. She was adored by male and female fans, alike. Marlene Dietrich is a legend and her willingness to push the envelope puts her in a class all by herself… well almost… No biographical accounting of Marlene’s life would be complete without mentioning the famed rivalry between Marlene and Greta Garbo, which was explained, and played up here, just as the press did at the height of their popularity and fame. I think both actresses deserved credit, both were special and ahead of their time, but to me, Marlene was much edgier, and seemed to enjoy being that way. Her teasing and daring literally jumps out at you from the screen, and leaves a lasting impression. The novel ends without exploring the latter years of her life, where she experienced very hard times as well as enjoying many bright spots before she became totally reclusive, struggling with addiction and ill health. While the book just stops, in a jarringly abrupt and awkward way, I felt the author’s focus on her early life was probably a good idea, especially since it captures the atmosphere surrounding the second world war, so well, and Marlene’s staunch stand against the Nazi’s and Hitler. While she was often untouched by what was going on, due to her work schedule, she did become more attune and shunned Berlin most of her life. Another pivitol part of her life, were her years with director von Sternberg, and it was only fitting, that some time was spent examining this relationship and the obvious impact it had on Marlene’s rise to superstar status, as well as examining the ultimate downfall of the collaboration, which also sent Marlene onto a different path career wise, so it was all very fascinating. There were many critical insights into Marlene’s life and how she chose to live it. She is, even now, a controversial figure, but one that is remembered as one of the best actresses of all time. I would like to find a more comprehensive biography, which will tell the whole of Marlene’s life and is written in the traditional biographical format. If anyone has a suggestion, feel free to recommend one. It’s been years since I’ve watched one of Dietrich’s films, and I will admit, a little sheepishly, that the movies I remember her by the most are the ones she made later in her life, such as ‘Witness for the Prosecution’, and not her groundbreaking roles, like ‘Blue Angel- Lola Lola’, probably because they were more readily assessable, but this book has me thinking of doing some binge watching one day soon.I have on occasion lamented the bygone era of such beautiful glamour, of the risk takers, and the trailblazers, and the multi-talented performers, with wide ranging depth and acting range. Marlene was all of those things, and more. All you had to do was look into those soulful eyes just once and you were under her spell. This is certainly an interesting spin on Marlene’s life, ‘through her own words’, which was both interesting and occasionally shocking, even now. Although, this was not the type of book I went looking for, I am glad I happened across it. It’s different, for sure, but was well done, overall. 4 stars

Angela M

July 06, 2016

3.5 stars if I could , but rounded up to 4 .I can't say that I've ever seen any of her movies , but that didn't diminish at all my interest in reading this biographical novel of Marlene Dietrich. I do remember seeing clips, seeing how beautiful she was and hearing that sultry voice . The first person narration gives this novel an almost genuine autobiographical feel. Yet, when I read a fictionalized account of a famous person, I always have that question lurking in my mind - how does the author know that this is what the person would have thought or said ? Then I think about how wonderfully creative the author was by taking the facts of Marlene's life and imagining what she was like and bringing her to life on these pages.Introduced to the "cinematographe "by a teacher, little did she know at the time where she would ultimately be. Raised by her strict widowed mother who attempts to shape Marlene's life by forcing her to study as a violinist. It is during this time as a music student that Marlene begins her journey to become her own person. She has an affair with music teacher, goes to theaters,bars and halls. The focus then is on her relationships with men and women, a free style, unconventional life for the times and trying to establish herself as an actress. I wanted the first half to move a little faster at times while her career was revving up and couldn't wait to get to when she comes to Hollywood. But so fascinating to watch as her career develops from singer to actress from stage to films. Finally , halfway through the book , she sets sail for Hollywood. The big names Gary Cooper , David O. Selznick, Claudette Colbert and Cary Grant ( my favorite) , and it was then that the glamour and excitement of the era came to life as well as the toughness and cut throat aspects of the film industry and the control that the studios had over the actors. The war and her personal life, her love affairs as well as her success in film are the focus of the second half. It's a fascinating life story , for sure ,and while I'm definitely not a prude, the explicit sex scenes in my view really weren't necessary to relate Dietrich's relationships. For me the best part of the story is how she stood up to the Nazis and entertained Allied troops displaying a strength of character that I have to admit I questioned earlier. While the book ends in the mid 1940's after the war and we don't see the rest of her life , Gortner has definitely accomplished what he set out to do as noted in the Afterword , "I can only hope my admiration for her shines through, and that in a small way, I've done her spirit justice ." Thanks to William Morrow/HarperCollins and Edelweiss.

Kate

June 07, 2016

I've been a fan of C.W. Gortner's books long before I met and befriended him at a conference, and Marlene Dietrich is perhaps my favorite of his heroines. She comes to life on the page: a swearing smoking bisexual goddess of sin. From her early days as schoolgirl violinist to her sashay through the Berlin cabarets of the 30s all the way to her meteoric rise through golden age Hollywood, she fascinates: honest enough to say she doesn't really have much in the way of acting talent; determined enough to succeed anyway; a self-made beauty whose remarkable charisma collected numberless admirers. Famous men and women parade in and out of Marlene's bed and life; she is refreshingly direct in her enjoyment of sex, and Gortner never slut-shames--he shows Marlene's tremendous gift for friendship as she remains friends with her ex-lovers and never stints to help when they are in trouble. Her unflinching stand against Nazism and her final triumph as darling of the USO tours and the American GIs is mesmerizing . . . and her final page stays with me, poignant and triumphant. Marlene Dietrich is larger than life here, and yet also very, very human.

Shomeret

July 21, 2016

Marlene Dietrich wasn't an icon for me until I saw her in Destry Rides Again, and then I wanted to see all her movies. I knew that she first had success in Weimar Germany. My concept of Weimar Germany is based on The Berlin Stories: The Last of Mr Norris/Goodbye to Berlin, a short story collection by Christopher Isherwood which is best known for its musical adaptation, Cabaret. I imagined Marlene Dietrich within that environment which was so unconventional and so free. This was the Marlene Dietrich that I expected to see in Marlene by C. W. Gortner, and he met my expectations in spades. I received my copy of Marlene from Edelweiss in return for this honest review.As I read C.W. Gortner's vision of Marlene Dietrich, I felt that she represented Weimar Germany's zeitgeist ( a German word that means the spirit of the time), and she never really became part of Hollywood. Hollywood studios tried to dictate what sort of life she led, but she carved out an existence for herself that was independent of Hollywood expectations. She always looked for ways to get around rules in order to do as she pleased. Readers who are uncomfortable with a protagonist who has a great deal of sex with both genders should not read this book. Neither should readers who are upset by adultery. Marlene was bisexual, and had unconventional views about relationships.I found this novel very entertaining and I would definitely read another book by C.W. Gortner. For my complete review see http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2016/...

Meg - A Bookish Affair

May 26, 2016

Prior to reading this book, I basically knew that Marlene Dietrich was an Old Hollywood star (with absolutely stunning bone structure) who was originally from Germany - not much at all. In this book, C.W. Gortner breathes life into this woman and shows why she is still so well remembered by so many. She is a fascinating person and it easy to see why she makes such a great subject for this historical fiction. The book is told from the perspective of Marlene. I absolutely loved being able to really step into her shoes through this book and see what she saw. Marlene does a lot of living, particularly in the earlier years of her life and it was great to see it through her eyes and to hear her explain what she was going through and what she was thinking. The book starts during her very early life as a schoolgirl in Germany so we get to know her well before she became a Hollywood siren. I loved how Gortner shows her progression from a rather shy young girl to someone who isn't afraid to put herself out there. She indulges in many pleasures throughout her young life. Her rise to Hollywood was also wonderful to read about.I've read several of Gortner's books before and I love his way with words. He does a great job of creating very unique voices for his characters and making them incredibly memorable. By the end of the book, Marlene felt incredibly intimate to me and this book only whetted my appetite to read more about her in the future. The descriptions are a true treat for my fellow historical fiction fans!

The Lit Bitch

June 10, 2016

The first thing that comes to mind as I read this book is…..what’s fact and what’s fiction? This book is marketed as a historical fiction novel but I had a hard time separating what was fact and what was fiction. Part of me doesn’t mind this sort of structure as the book didn’t read like a biography or memoir but at the same time it was hard for me to know how much of the story was fictional versus factual.However I guess an argument could be made that this book is so well written and researched that fact and fiction seamlessly blend together. At any rate, while I was distracted at time about the fact versus fiction bit, it didn’t necessarily turn me off from the story. I loved reading about a women that I basically know nothing about. All I know is the famous name and that’s about it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of her movies either. So reading this story made her seem more like a real person to me.There was so much attention to detail in the story, not just with Marlene’s life but her little character traits were so detailed which made her seem so much more real in this book. Gortner has an uncanny ability to portray women in such a ‘real’ fashion….it’s really an art form! I love how he brings her character to life in this book.My only issue with the book was the story wrapped up a little too quick for me. It ends basically when she returns from Germany back to Hollywood and though it ends on a good note I just felt like there was more to be told in some ways.This book (as with most of Gortner’s books) is very readable and engaging. If you enjoy reading about unique women not only in history but also in pop culture, I highly recommend picking up one of his books. Not to mention he always has magnificent cover designs that just make me want to read the story more! This book is no exception, even if you don’t care about Hollywood….this is more than a book about another Hollywood starlit…..this is a book about a woman’s journey!See my full review here

Rita

January 07, 2022

Marlene traz-nos a biografia, ainda que ficcionada, de Marlene Dietrich. Narrada pela própria, mostra-nos uma mulher determinada, ambiciosa, que não deixou que nada nem ninguém se intrometesse no seu caminho.Uma mulher livre de preconceitos, Marlene mostrou-se fervorosamente contra o regime Nazi desde o início e fundos para ajudar judeus e outros dissidentes a escapar da Alemanha de Hitler, acabando mesmo por renunciar à sua cidadania alemã.Um livro muito bem escrito, de leitura fluída que retrata de forma maravilhosa a época, desde os cabarets alemães à glamourosa Hollywood dos anos 20/30.Mais um trabalho incrível de C.W. Gortner, que além desta, tem outras excelentes obras sobre personagens femininas marcantes como Lucrécia Bórgia e Coco Chanel.

Colleen

December 29, 2016

Find my full review at www.luxuryreading.com.The Golden Age of Hollywood has always held a unique fascination for me, with so much glamour and mystery surrounding the lives of the various players that just begs to be explored. Given this I had a vague idea of who Marlene Dietrich was even if I didn’t know much about her personal life. After reading and enjoying a number of books by author C.W. Gortner I did know, however, that I was in for a treat and was bound to learn a great deal in the process. What I didn’t expect was to discover such a rare and remarkable woman that is truly beyond compare.Divided up into “scenes” or blocks of years of Marlene’s life, the reader learns her story through her own words, feelings, and actions in a manner as vibrant as if the reader was experiencing it along with her. Starting in her childhood during WWI and progressing through WWII, the reader gets a true sense of who this woman was (a determined tiger of a woman with a surprisingly big heart) and who she definitely wasn’t (someone who would sell her morals or friends for anything, even more money or celebrity status). Growing up in Germany and raised by a rigid and rule-governing mother, Marlene nevertheless broke every rule and regulation placed before her to blaze her own path into the limelight. She loved and lusted with abandon and the wild. The changeable world of Germany after WWI was the perfect backdrop for Marlene to be able to spread her wings and discover her immense talent as an entertainer.While Marlene’s early life is fascinating, my favorites parts of the novel deal with her many years in Hollywood and her surprising (for me) turn as a USO entertainer on the front lines of WWII. There is an endless list of supporting players from the crème de la crème of Hollywood and it was an eye opener to see how many of these people entered her life – and her bed – during her lifetime. While there were aspects of Marlene at this time that were selfish, (leaving her daughter in Berlin while she started her career and then, when she was more established, making her daughter move to America even though she didn’t want to go) she also gave so much to friends and family in need, from paying all of her husband’s bills to sheltering friends who were escaping the terrors in Europe. Beyond all of that, she put her own life on the line as a USO entertainer, going to the boys that needed her special brand of entertaining most even if that meant performing next to a ditch and suffering through lice and dysentery. She did everything in her power to stay in the USO for as long as possible and had to literally be dragged away to a hospital for an infection in her jaw and severe dehydration. I have never heard of a celebrity doing something like this before, and I am now a lifelong fan of this incredible woman.Now, being the huge history buff I am, it was also a pleasant surprise for the author to incorporate so much of the politics and gritty history happening in the greater world around the actress during this time. It truly is a singular time and place she lived in and C.W. Gortner is at his best when immersing the reader in history. His descriptions of the devastation brought about by the war and the aftermath witnessed through Marlene’s eyes are so vivid that you get a great sense of just how unbelievable it would have been, especially for this particular woman, now an American citizen returning to the home of her birth and seeing the horrors her countryman had unleashed on the world.Marlene is an exceptional story about an unbelievable woman. She lived through two World Wars and experienced life at its highest and lowest points. If you like history or Hollywood you definitely want to read this story.

Marisa

May 06, 2020

Existente também em língua inglesa, este é um romance histórico acerca da actriz e cantora alemã Marlene Dietrich. Não é uma biografia. Ao contrário do que se poderia eventualmente esperar, as suas 500 e tal páginas não fazem deste livro um calhamaço aborrecido, monótono e indigesto. Aliás, embora tenha sido forçada a fazer muitas paragens na sua leitura (por razões que são, na verdade, alheias à qualidade e dimensão de ,,Marlene und die Suche nach Liebe" [Marlene e a procura de amor]), nunca perdi "o fio à meada", o interesse na evolução da história e nos altos e baixos pelos quais Dietrich passa ao longo da sua intensa e agitada vida. Dietrich vive as duas Guerras Mundiais. Perde o pai cedo. Tem uma vida amorosa atribulada. Não quer ser violinista como a mãe tanto desejava e tem com ela uma relação algo dificil. Experimenta o fracasso, depois o sucesso. Deixa a Alemanha e vai para os EUA, onde atinge o auge da sua carreira... A escrita é bastante agradável e o tempo em que decorre é-me especial. O autor descreve e aborda as mudanças ocorridas na sociedade e na vida política da Alemanha com bastante detalhe, sem ser exaustivo. O resultado é um romance histórico interessante que me ficará certamente na memória, como aliás ficou, reparei agora, um outro livro que já li anteriormente do mesmo "Mademoiselle Chanel". Gostei muito.

Pam

December 16, 2016

Have you read any of Gortner's fabulous biographic novels? Start with this amazing (just out in paperback) story of Marlene Dietrich and glimpse the little-told story of her life behind the spotlight, from Weimar Germany to Hollywood and back again. Fascinating!

Sally

March 28, 2016

Marlene Dietrich knew everyone, and slept with half of them. A comprehensive account of Dietrich's life from her school years through her forties told in a first-person voice. Vivid descriptions of Weimar Germany's decadence and despair, "the blue angel"'s open bi-sexuality and remarkable experiences, particularly during WWII, and insights into Germany's everyday anti-Semitism and how patriotic citizens looked the other way as Hitler came to power.

Sharon

May 14, 2016

I have been a fan of C.W. Gortner's meticulous historical fiction since reading "The Queen's Vow" a few years ago. With this book, Gortner has left the world of the Spanish royal family and entered war-torn Germany for a look at one of Hollywood's most glamorous leading ladies.We start with a very young Marlene Dietrich, attending private school and taking violin lessons ... and discovering her sexual orientation is not quite what she expected it to be. Throughout the book, Dietrich's relationships with men and women alike are examined through thoughtful eyes.As Marlene gets a little older, we see her becoming a film star at a very young age ... and finding the challenges of working in both Germany and Hollywood. Dietrich's well-known anti-Nazi sentiment is shown in depth, with a clear understanding of how she came to dislike the country where she grew up as it changed radically under Hitler's regime.Gortner never fails to do his homework, which results in pages full of rich historical detail and well-developed characters. In this book, every person mentioned actually existed; the details were gleaned from correspondence, biographies, and more. Gortner really hits it out of the park with this one.

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