Before Marilyn: The Blue Book Modeling Years

Allow me to congratulate authors Astrid Franse and Michelle Morgan for avoiding all the sensationalist traps and the invalid application of supposition and assumption while also avoiding the psychobabble that afflicts many of the books written about Norma Jeane and Marilyn. The word "affair" only appears in the text twice, the word "sex" only once—and not in relation to the actual act thereof—while the words "romance" and "lover", along with "psychology", are completely absent. Refreshing to say the least.For various and sundry reasons, lately I have read more than a few books about Marilyn's death; and BEFORE MARILYN: THE BLUE BOOK MODELING YEARS was a pleasant and refreshing respite from those odd and grotesque accounts of a mystery that will never be solved. However, BEFORE MARILYN solves one mystery: Emmeline Snively launched Norma Jeane's career and by extension, the career of Marilyn Monroe.As Emmeline wrote in one of her journals: "The days of the glamour girl are fading … The trees on the Tujunga River were washed away in the floods a few years ago and as one looks at the changes today, you can still look back to the girl who became a legend (Franse & Morgan KE:8)." And because of Astrid Franse and Michelle Morgan, and their book about the girl before Marilyn, you can now look back to the woman who helped create that legend: Emmeline Snively. A book definitely worth reading.

What, only 5 stars? Need a lot more to express my love for this book. Thank you Miss Emmeline Snively for giving a young Norma Jeane a chance for fame and fortune. And thanks for holding on to all those photos and notes and memos. And special thanks to Astrid Franse for making the find of the century in that store that day and for holding on to everything in order to share with all us fans now. Michelle Morgan does a fine putting together all this material and getting this book published. There are scores of color and black and white photos not seen by this long time collector before. Sprinkled throughout the book are many photos you may have seen before but they are appropriately placed in the timeline of Marilyn's career. This book covers the modeling years and beyond with notes by Miss Snively made after Marilyn's modelling years. I highly recommend this book to Marilyn fans and aspiring models.

I always wanted this book due to her modeling career. Very excited reading it. Thank you.

It's fascinating to think, that although she has been written about so many times, nothing has really been written about her modeling career,this pretty much fills the void. It really is about the blue book modeling agency,as much as about MM., but kinda necessary to understand where THE ONLY BLONDE IN THE WORLD was coming from (and can you believe it ,its all natural blonde too?)

Very good book with tons of photos and a great story of Marilyn in the beginning of her stardom. This is a story we know very little about. The story about her early model years.High quality print and thick glossy paper. Great coffee table book for every MM fan

Been a fan of Michelle Morgan's books for a while. Especially "Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed". Once again, I'm amazed by her work and research. The pictures were amazing too. A great in depth look at Marilyn's modeling days. Finished the book the day I got it. A great read. Add to my collection of favorites!

Fantastic book.Lil slow receiving.

I actually fell upon this book at my public library and was sad when it was due, so I looked on Amazin and luckily found a copy. Wonderful, factual book.

This book takes us to the beginning of Marilyn's professional life as a model for the Blue Book Agency run by Emmeline Snively. Snively saw great potential in 19 year Norma Jeane Dougherty who she was introduced to in August 1945 by photographer Potter Hueth, who had been introduced to Norma Jeane by David Conover after he took photos of her that summer while she was working in a factory. Over the next few years Snively transformed the shy teenager into the young woman the world would come to know as Marilyn Monroe. So much had been written about those years, often shady accounts of how Norma Jeane was discovered, but for the first time we have the real first hand account of how this came to be from the extensive archives of Miss Snively now owned by Astrid Franse, which has original documentations, letters, photos and Miss Snively's own anecdotes on Norma Jeane aka Marilyn. This is all brought to life by the wonderful writing style of Michelle Morgan, who offers us a glimpse of what it must have been like to be in Miss Snively's shoes as she witnessed Norma Jeane's hard work and determination to be a success. Often facing rejection, but always keeping positive and never giving up, as she evolved and blossomed into Marilyn Monroe. The book gives us a wealth of information and is like an insiders view of how it was. As many books seem to focus on the rumours surrounding Marilyn's untimely death and the myths created about her, we are given an opportunity to see here the young woman before the myths began to take hold. Her early career and how far she came and in the memorable words of Lee Strasberg, "a warm human being, impulsive and shy, sensitive and in fear of rejection, yet ever avid for life and reaching out for fulfilment." Highly recommended as it offers an insight into one aspect of Marilyn Monroe's life that has not been examined so closely before.

What a refreshing change to read something based on Marilyn's earlier life, and indeed her modelling days, than what is usually written about her. This book is a pure joy; not only to read but to look at too. Michelle and Astrid have done a sterling job of putting this book together. The text just flows delightfully and the pictures are a wonder to behold. This book is so historically important in Marilyn's story and a must have in any Marilyn collection. The ending is bitter sweet but not just for obvious reasons (tissues at the ready). If you are only going to buy one Marilyn book this year then let it be this one. A breath of fresh air. Thank you to Michelle and Astrid for such a important and wonderful book.

This is one of my favourite books on Marilyn Monroe. Exploring her early career Michelle Morgan and Astrid Franse give a wonderful account of the years when Monroe was not yet an international star. The book is fantastically researched and so well written ! It contains an incredible collection of photographs. There is an abundance of never published pictures and documents that I found just fascinating! This book is superb quality - if you get a chance buy it. It is a must have!Jean Norman

Delighted with this beautiful book. All round good experience. Highly recommended. Thank you for a good service.

This is so nicely manufactured that it is a book to be treasured. Any one with the slightest interest in Marilyn should buy it. As should anyone who just likes a good book.