Book Synopsis

Marilyn Monroe's final formal photo session and last interview have never been released in their entirety--until now. Completed in July 1962, just a month before her passing, the interview conducted by Richard Meryman was Marilyn at her most open and honest, and the photos by Allan Grant were the only ones ever taken in her home. Now, for the first time, you can read Marilyn in her own words and see her as the world has never seen her before.

In July 1962, Marilyn Monroe was at a crossroads. At thirty-six years old and embroiled in legal battles with the studio of her current picture, Something's Gotta Give, she was struggling with fame, age, and a studio system in which she no longer fit. When she sat down to give Richard Meryman an interview, she had a lot to say. Originally intended to be an interview about fame, over the course of four hours Marilyn talked about her entire life. Only a small portion of the interview was published in LIFE Magazine. When she died, just two days after the article was published, Meryman put the full transcript and the original tapes in his files, never to see the light of day.

Documenting this landmark interview was iconic photojournalist Allan Grant. His images of Marilyn would be her last formal photo shoot--in her home, in casual clothes, being the glorious, free spirit she was. Grant captured every emotion of the interview in these exquisite images, only eight of which were published alongside the LIFE interview excerpt. Most of the remainder of the images were stored in Allan's safe, waiting to be rediscovered.

Marilyn: The Lost Photographs - The Last Interview is Marilyn Monroe in her own words--words that haven't been published, until now. In this recently restored and complete transcript, Marilyn candidly talks about her childhood and life, fame, the studio system, her approach to work, celebrity, being a sex symbol, and more. At times joyous, silly, serious, philosophical and pensive, it is a Marilyn that the world has never experienced. Accompanying the interview are more than 400 of Grant's extraordinary images, most never published until now.

This beautifully produced book offers readers a glimpse into Marilyn's mindset during her final month as she began to assert control of her career and address her relationship with celebrity. Deepening the understanding of Marilyn's talents, humanity, and true legacy, and the appreciation of her true beauty, this is a fitting tribute to one of the most iconic figures in history.

Review Quotes

"Marilyn told me the best and most honest interview she ever had was the one she did for Richard Meryman. He wrote Marilyn's story just as she told it, just as she wanted her story told. With Meryman, she was a mature woman reflecting on herself, righting the wrongs of exploitative journalism, taking Marilyn Monroe as the serious self."
-Sam Shaw, photographer, friend, and author of Dear Marilyn: The Unseen Letters and Photographs

About the Author

Journalist and biographer Richard Meryman (1926 - 2015) was one of the most respected interviewers of the twentieth century, pioneering the monologue-style personality profile that began with his interview of Marilyn. Many of his interviews became books, including two Joan Rivers autobiographies, Louis Armstrong's 1971 self-portrait, Elizabeth Taylor's self-titled 1964 autobiography, and four books on Andrew Wyeth. For twenty-three years Meryman was a correspondent, editor, and staff writer for Life magazine.

Photojournalist Allan Grant (1919 - 2008) was made a permanent member of the prestigious Life magazine photographic staff in 1946. From the 1940s through the 1960s Grant documented news events around the globe, from VE Day to the Atom Bomb tests in Nevada. Grant was also considered the Great Chronicler of Hollywood, shooting stars such as Grace Kelley, Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Elizabeth Taylor, and more.

Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, comedienne, singer, and model. Known for playing comic "blonde bombshell" characters, she is one of the world's most enduring iconic figures and is remembered for her winsome embodiment of the Hollywood sex symbol.