Candy Darling

Dreamer, Icon, Superstar

By: Cynthia Carr

Narrated by: Justin Vivian Bond

This program is read by cabaret legend Justin Vivian Bond.

A Must-Read: The New York Times Book Review, Nylon, Star Tribune, Ms., Kirkus Reviews, The Bay Area Reporter, Town & Country, InsideHook

“[A] monumental biography.”—Hilton Als, The New Yorker

“A rich portrait of a glittering, communal, and bygone NYC . . . [and] of the glamorous queer icon.”—Arimeta Diop, Vanity Fair

From the acclaimed biographer Cynthia Carr, the first full portrait of the queer icon and Warhol superstar Candy Darling.

Warhol superstar and transgender icon Candy Darling was glamour personified, but she was without a real place in the world.

Growing up on Long Island, lonely and quiet and queer, she was enchanted by Hollywood starlets like Kim Novak. She found her turn in New York’s early Off-Off-Broadway theater scene, in Warhol’s films Flesh and Women in Revolt, and at the famed nightclub Max's Kansas City. She inspired songs by Lou Reed and the Rolling Stones. She became friends with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, borrowed a dress from Lauren Hutton, posed for Richard Avedon, and performed alongside Tennessee Williams in his own play.

Yet Candy lived on the edge, relying on the kindness of strangers, friends, and her quietly devoted mother, sleeping on couches and in cheap hotel rooms, keeping a part of herself hidden. She wanted to be a star, but mostly she wanted to be loved. Her last diary entry was: “I shall try to be grateful for life . . . Cannot imagine who would want me." Candy died at twenty-nine in 1974, as conversations about gender and identity were really just starting. She never knew it, but she changed the world.

Packed with tales of luminaries and gossip and meticulous research, immersive and laced with Candy’s words and her friends' recollections, Cynthia Carr's Candy Darling is Candy's long-overdue return to the spotlight.

A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Cynthia Carr (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“[An] incandescent portrait . . . Carr resurrects a trans icon whose life, artistry, and struggle speak directly to our moment.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“I first heard her name in a Lou Reed song; I first saw her face in a Peter Hujar photograph, looking glamorous, dying; I first heard her voice in an Andy Warhol film. And now, how wonderful to be taken, with care and delight and plenty of spectacle, behind the myth for a peek at the beating heart of Candy Darling. Cynthia Carr has written an absorbing account of an unforgettable woman in a fascinating time, a lonely icon who tried to find a place for herself in a world that couldn’t hold her.”—Justin Torres, author of Blackouts

“What an inspiring book! First you think, ‘I know that.’ But then you think, ‘Oh I didn’t know that, or that or that.’ The very identity of Candy Darling, what it was like to be a trans kid growing up in the 1950s, and the landscape surrounding her, gets renovated in this wake-up take on gender in the ’60s and ’70s. The web of detail assembled by culture sleuth Cynthia Carr is quickened by the facts of Candy’s tireless beauty, charm, and charisma—and oh so much pain. Complexly wrenching, startling, entirely fresh, and frankly alive, Candy Darling delivers an altogether frank and shimmering portrait of a self-made American female deity, more than a bit of a prophet, constructed whole cloth from her own and everyone else’s desiring dream. Omigod, what a trip!”—Eileen Myles, author of a “Working Life”

Great narration

It felt like being walked through Candy’s life by her dear friend. Terrific narration, would pick up another title Just to listen to the reader more

Brilliant

Engaging, endearing, funny as hell, and a grade inside into 1960s and 70s New York.

Thee candy darling’s bibile

Finally, a whole richly researched book about the darling of the 60’s underground. Beautiful and tragic to the very end and a lady who deserved so much better things in her short life.
Extra points goes to the narration done By Mx Justin Vivian bond. Who revived the narration and figures in their rich, emotional voice. A gift that keep on giving.

The cruelty of humans

How cruel and narrow we humans can be when faced with our own humanity.

(Rhyme unintended)

Please read this book.

The Biography Candy deserved

Well researched and written , narrator did an amazing job of bringing Candy, and the times alive .

terrific

"I have all the things people dream about and none of the things they take for granted."

Phenomenal, really. Better written than I would have expected and the audiobook is superb. I don't know if anyone has ever been so perfectly cast as an audiobook narrator as Justin Vivian Bond with this book. Viv's performance is perfect.

Legend

Cyntia Carr is a true New York City legend - wonderful insightful book - candy Darling is alive and popping out from every page and so is nyc of the 60es & 70es

Captivating

The book was excellent. Thorough but never dry, it was engaging the whole way through. Wonderful narration and was glad to have a trans person doing the reading. If you are at all interested in Candy Darling specifically or trans history in general, you are in good hands here.