Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

The Illuminating Diary of a Professional Lady

By: Anita Loos, Jenny McPhee - introduction

Narrated by: Patrice O’Neill

The delirious 1925 Jazz-Age classic that no less an authority than Edith Wharton called "the great American novel".

If any American fictional character of the 20th century seems likely to be immortal, it is Lorelei Lee of Little Rock, Arkansas, the not-so-dumb blonde who knew that diamonds are a girl's best friend. Outrageous, charming, and unforgettable, she's been portrayed on stage and screen by Carol Channing and Marilyn Monroe, and has become the archetype of the footloose, good-hearted gold digger, with an insatiable appetite for orchids, champagne, and precious stones.

Here are her "diaries", created by Anita Loos in the Roaring Twenties, as Lorelei and her friend Dorothy barrel across Europe, meeting everyone from the Prince of Wales to "Doctor Froyd" - and then back home again to marry a Main Line millionaire and become a movie star. In this delightfully droll and witty book, Lorelei Lee's wild antics, unique outlook, and imaginative way with language shine.

©2014 Introduction by Jenny McPhee to the Liveright. Paperback edition copyright © 2014 by Jenny McPhee. Copyright renewed 1991 by Jay S. Harris. Copyright © 1963 by Anita Loos. Copyright renewed 1952 by Anita Loos Emerson. Copyright 1925 by Anita Loos. Copyright 1925 by The International Magazine Co, Inc. (Harper’s Bazaar) (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Great text, on fence on delivery

Great original text, I remember loving it when I first read it as a university student, and enjoyed it this second time as an audiobook. The text speaks for itself without needing the naive lamb rendition I think, but I do get why it was done. Not sure if it would have been better without it but I didn’t read it quite that way in my head when I was young I think. I’m debating heading to the sequel now. I remember enjoying it too all those years ago.

Great story

This was an exciting discovery for me. Anita Loos, the author, has put into words something about men that remains true and funny to this day, over 80 years after first being published.

It tells stories on men and is also a great little history of the 1920's.

It is very funny and highly recommended.

The narrator is absolutely perfect for this book and I hope she does a lot more work for us.

Gentlemen prefer Audible

A great performance of this classic work. I love the readers hilarious performance of Dorothy.

Fate Keeps Happening!

Great edition. Who new James Joyce binge-read this?

The comedy is remarkably fresh for a 100 year-old book. Loos's whipsmart wordplay conjuring a likeable ditzy blonde feels more "Clueless" than Marilyn Monroe.

The narrator reminded me of the cheerleader from "Daria" and had me in stitches. What a tour de force!

Could Not Get Past Narrator

The narrator does a grating Marilyn Monroe impression. Unbearable. Cannot comment on book content. There seems to be another version out there with a better narrator. Might try that one. Available through Amazon.

A Girl Like I Loves This Book, Which Is An Audio Book

I can't say enough good of this novel. It is conscious of literary form the way Gertrude Stein's poetry is, and it is a biting and effervescent satire of sexual hypocrisies and gender objectification of the Jazz Age. McPhee writes a marvelous introduction, and the narrator is spot- on.

Brava to all!

Preferred book much over the movie

the book has a wonderful and beautiful ambience to it and is one of my favorite reads

Blonds and gentlemen

A charming story written nearly 100 years ago is still young. The style has awakened some distant memories of Tom Jones, a Foundling. The book starts in Chapter 3. Introduction in Chapters 1 and 2 may be skipped till one ends listening to the book itself. I have nearly returned the book when Chapter 2 has repeated Chapter 1, and I erroneously got the impression that the entire book contains retelling the original story instead of the story itself. Then I have skipped to Chapter 3, and the magic has started. The narrator's voice is a perfect fit.

Annoying performance

Seriously annoying narration voice and read, had to stop.... Enough baby talk already, just lame Marilyn Monroe performance but book is from published 1925 one year before she was born. If I wanted to hear Marilyn Monroe 's performance I would watch the Film. Not for me...

Great reading of the character

It's a fun story, and I enjoyed the essay at the beginning discussing it's origen and reception by major writers and critical at the time of its initial publication.