Slumber on Speculation

It always starts with a book. Or rather, with an overwhelming number of them. According to WorldCat, a staggering 1,190 titles are dedicated to Marilyn Monroe. This abundance of literature not only reflects but also fuels the enduring fascination with the iconic figure. If piled up, they would tower higher than the Turning Torso in Malmö. Seven hundred and sixty-five of these are in English alone — a weighty volume that could easily overwhelm even the most devoted reader. However, the allure of Monroe's life and legacy is so compelling that it keeps us captivated, always seeking more.

Most of these books offer not truth but noise: speculation, gossip, and conspiracy theories dressed up as biography. Yet, within this flood, there are treasures — rare fragments of insight, precious shards of honesty, and occasional glimpses of the real woman. These are not just moments, but keys that unlock the true essence of Monroe. They are the heart of her biographies, making the journey through them a truly valuable and enlightening experience.

It is easy to imagine Marilyn, the Time-traveller, visiting her friend Anita Ekberg’s flat above Ohlsson’s corner at Stortorget, dozing off with one of these enormous tomes as her pillow. She is a figure that transcends time, originating from an eternal realm. Among the stars, nothing can be concealed, for every witness remains prepared to add the final word to what has happened. Her enduring legacy ensures that she is always present, always a part of our cultural landscape.

“The Star on the Star

They wrote two thousand volumes,
each one shouting truth at last!
Yet every page is tangled
in rumours from the past.

Some swear she whispered secrets,
some claim she knew the score,
some blame the CIA,
and others blame the floor.

They argue, scheme, and speculate,
they conjure wild plots galore,
yet facts get lost in footnotes,
and legends grow still more.

But here’s the only sure thing,
the fact none can deny:
a film star, when she leaves the earth,
takes up a home on high.

Marilyn lounges on her star,
a library in her lap,
she skims the books, then shuts her eyes,
and smiles at all the claptrap.

For gossip burns like paper,
conspiracies expire,
but the truth is sipping champagne
far above the earthly choir.”
Malmö. October 2025

Slumber on Speculation

According to WorldCat, there are 2,190 printed titles about Marilyn Monroe, of which 765 are in English — a number that most likely represents the majority.

Most of it is probably little more than rubbish if one is searching for the truth and nothing but the truth. But if one enjoys the entertainment value of speculation, rumours, conspiracy theories, and slander, there are treasures to be found in this flood of books.

It is hardly surprising for the Time-traveller Marilyn, during her visit to her eternal friend Anita Ekberg’s apartment above Ohlsson’s corner at Stortorget in Malmö, to have fallen asleep with one of these monstrous tomes as her pillow, considering she comes from eternity. This visit, a fictional scenario, serves as a metaphor for Monroe's enduring presence in our cultural consciousness. Among the stars, nothing can be hidden, for there is always someone ready to pass judgment on what has happened. Since then, all the witnesses remain.

Beyond biographies and the fictional tales of novels, there are other ways to delve into Marilyn Monroe’s life. The podcast “You Must Remember This,” dedicated to the hidden and often overlooked histories of Hollywood, offers a unique perspective on Monroe. Its trilogy on Monroe, charting her path from model to star to her enigmatic death, provides insights that are as engaging as any written account, making it essential listening for any Monroe enthusiast.

On screen, “My Week With Marilyn”—with Michelle Williams’s remarkable performance—remains one of my personal favourites, though I still insist she was robbed of her Oscar. These alternative narratives remind us that Monroe is not merely a subject of dusty biographies but a living presence who continues to reappear in culture in new forms, her influence lasting and her legacy always present — a testament to the significance of her impact.

But perhaps the most eloquent “books” about Monroe are not books at all, but auction catalogues. These volumes, unlike speculative biographies that trade in rumours, document what can be proven: her dresses, her letters, her annotated books, her everyday belongings. They provide a tangible and authentic connection to her life, offering a unique perspective that brings us closer to the honest Monroe.

The 1999 Christie’s catalogue from Rockefeller Plaza spans 416 pages and reads like an unintentional autobiography—each item tells a story, each fragment offers a clue. The 2016 Julien’s Auctions catalogue, where Monroe’s iconic dress from President Kennedy’s birthday was sold, is equally revealing. These catalogues, though commercial in nature, are essential in preserving Monroe's legacy. They do not invent; they preserve. And in their pages, Monroe’s presence feels not just present, but strangely complete, as if she were still with us.

Marilyn Monroe – Beyond the Myth

Marilyn Monroe remains one of the most recognisable figures of the twentieth century. Yet, what most of us believe we know about her is a story written by men — a narrative of curves and vulnerability, seduction, and the convenient caricature of the “dumb blonde.”

But over the past decades, something remarkable has occurred. The women’s movement has begun to claim her as one of its own. Gloria Steinem once remarked that if Monroe had lived longer, she would very likely have been a “card-carrying feminist.” Not only because she endured the worst that sexism could offer, but because she resisted it — often fearlessly, often ahead of her time. Her story is a powerful testament to the strength and resilience of women in the face of adversity. Her activism, her courage in the face of a world that rarely recognised women's bravery, and her unwavering commitment to her progressive beliefs, even as her supporters—and her industry—turned away, are an inspiration to us all. In her life, we find lessons not only on how to endure but also on how to live valiantly, encouraging us to confront our own challenges with resilience.

She was courageous when the world rarely recognised women’s bravery. She stayed true to her progressive beliefs even as her supporters — and her industry — turned away. In her life, we find lessons not only on how to endure but also on how to live valiantly, encouraging us to confront our own challenges with resilience.

She Spoke Up

In the 1950s, when sexual violence was seldom discussed, Monroe publicly spoke about the abuse she suffered as a child and later as an adult. To expose what most women endured in silence was an act of extraordinary bravery.

As Steinem remarked on what would have been Monroe’s 75th birthday in 2001: “Her experiences were ones that feminism often speaks out on: sexual abuse, sexual victimisation, a mother’s madness.”

She had already broken the silence long before any movement would repeat those words and say, “Women are not to blame.”

She Bossed Up

Marilyn Monroe was only the second woman in Hollywood history to run her own production company. The first was silent star Mary Pickford — another actress who refused to be confined. Monroe founded Marilyn Monroe Productions in defiance of Fox Studios, which typecast her, held back scripts until the last minute, and paid her far less than her male co-stars. Her defiance encourages us to stand up against injustice.

Through her company, she secured roles in Bus Stop and The Prince and the Showgirl. Bus Stop, in particular, provided her with the role of Cherie — a layered, complex character far from the stereotype. The film was both a commercial success and an artistic vindication, affirming her talent and demonstrating that she could shape her own destiny on screen.

She Skilled Up

Mockery of ambition was common, and Monroe’s ambitions were frequently subject to ridicule. When she confessed she sought roles as significant as Grushenka in Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, journalists scoffed that she could barely spell the name.

But she persisted. She was committed to self-improvement, studying under Lee and Paula Strasberg at the Actors Studio, taking literature classes at UCLA, and reading voraciously. Her dedication to growth is truly inspiring. Monroe's journey of personal development, from a young girl with big dreams to a respected actress and activist, is a testament to the power of persistence and self-improvement. “There’s nothing wrong with glamour… But I want to be in the kind of pictures where I can develop, not just wear tights.”

She never stopped learning.

She Stood Up

The story of Ella Fitzgerald showcases Monroe at her finest. In the mid-1950s, Fitzgerald was turned down for a booking at the Mocambo, a prominent nightclub in Los Angeles. The owner dismissed her as “not glamorous” enough, and her being Black was a significant factor in the refusal.

Monroe intervened and assured the owner that if Fitzgerald were booked, she would sit in the front row each night, bringing her friends along. She kept her promise — Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, and others also attended. Fitzgerald later said in a 1972 interview: “I owe Marilyn Monroe a real debt.”

In lending her star power, Monroe utilised fame as leverage for justice.

She Persisted

Her politics were not an afterthought. She supported civil rights, spoke openly in favour of Castro’s Cuba, and helped establish the Hollywood branch of the Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy. Monroe's activism in the civil rights movement, her support for political causes, and her refusal to stay politically silent, even when stars were expected to, are all part of her legacy. She even served as an alternate delegate to the Democratic caucus in her Connecticut district.

At a time when stars were expected to stay politically silent, Monroe refused to quiet her voice.

What She Teaches

Yes, Monroe was beautiful. She endured profound traumas, both public and private. But she was also braver than her world wanted her to be — politically daring, professionally independent, intellectually hungry. Her resilience in the face of adversity, her ability to rise above her circumstances and continue to strive for her goals, stands as a testament to her strength, inspiring us to face our own challenges with courage and determination.

She was, above all, complete. Not a myth, not a caricature, but a woman who insisted on being many things simultaneously. Her authenticity, her refusal to be pigeonholed or defined by others, shines through, making her a relatable figure and inspiring us to embrace our own authenticity.

Her life continues to whisper to us: persist in being the full extent of who you are, even when the world attempts to diminish you. Monroe's persistence in staying true to herself, in refusing to be anything less than her authentic self, serves as a beacon of encouragement, urging us to stay true to ourselves despite the challenges we may face.