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 "Of Stars and Men - Human
Response to an Expanding Universe" by
Harlow Shapley
The library of
Marilyn Monroe contained over 400 books on a variety of subjects, reflecting
both her intelligence and her wide-ranging interests. No surprise to those
familiar with Monroe, they were the books of a well-read and inquiring
mind. Works of Literature, Art, Drama, Biography, Poetry, Politics,
History, Theology, Philosophy, and Psychology covered the walls in her
library. Among the First Editions was her own copy of The Beat Generation
classic On the Road by Jack Kerouac, Ralph Ellison's The Invisible
Man and William Styron's This House on Fire. From Tolstoy to
Twain, many other classic works of literature were represented, including
her copies of The Great Gatsby, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,
James Joyce's Dubliners, Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises, and
The Fall by Camus. Her library also contained books on gardening,
her Bibles, and children's books, including her own copy of The Little
Engine That Could which was possibly marked with her own childish
scrawl.
All items in
Monroe's library were in original bindings (mostly cloth or wrappers), and
good condition. The books comprising Marilyn Monroe's reading library
contained her pencil marks, notations, and inserted book marks or slips.
All volumes sold
at the 1999 Christie's auction contained a posthumous bookplate identifying
them as coming from Marilyn Monroe's library. Books from Monroe's library
were sold to benefit Literacy Partners.
Provenance: Christie's
New York: The Personal Property of Marilyn Monroe, October 27-28, 1999.
Click here to buy your copy of the Christie's auction catalog for the sale
of Marilyn Monroe's personal items.
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