Marilyn Monroe

Books

How Norman Mailer changed the face of biography

Thirty years ago, two intriguing books by the writer appeared just a few months apart

Robert Dean Lurie

How the world fell for Marilyn Monroe

Being recognizable as a hank of blonde hair and a white dress failing to preserve her dignity dehumanizes the film star

Julie Burchill

Sam Smith, can you put your clothes on?

When unattractive people strip off for strangers, it’s as cringe as seeing someone who can’t sing going on a TV talent show

Julie Burchill

James Ellroy’s new novel is a gleefully violent, foul-mouthed research note

He is not without his issues, of course. No need to fret about the drug-pickled corpse around which his delirious noir entertainment churns

Simon Ings

Theater

The Some Like It Hot revival is cream-puff theater

It reduces a charged premise to something more mundane

Robert S. Erickson