Marlene Dietrich

The Life

By: Maria Riva

Narrated by: Christa Lewis

With intimate detail, author Maria Riva reveals the rich life of her mother, Marlene Dietrich, the charismatic star of stage and screen whose career spanned much of the 20th century. Opening with Dietrich's childhood in Schöneberg, Riva's biography introduces us to an energetic, disciplined, and ambitious young actress whose own mother equated show business with a world of vagabonds and thieves.

Dietrich would quickly rise to stardom on the Berlin stage in the 1920s with her sharp wit and bisexual mystique, and wearing the top hat and tails that revolutionized our concept of beauty and femininity. She comes alive in these pages in all her incarnations: muse, collaborator, bona fide movie star, box-office poison, lover, wife, and mother.

During World War II, Dietrich would stand up to the Nazis and galvanize American troops, eventually earning the Congressional Medal of Freedom. There were her artistic relationships with Josef von Sternberg (The Blue Angel, Morocco, Shanghai Express), Colette, Erich Maria Remarque, Noël Coward, and Cole Porter, as well as her heady romances. And in her final years, Dietrich would make herself visibly invisible, devoting herself to the immortality of her legend.

©2017 Maria Riva (P)2020 Tantor

An Amazing Biography

Not only probably the best biography of a Hollywood star but a biography of the 20th century. How things moved, felt and how it all ultimately falls apart. Sad and beautiful. Only someone who lived it could bring this story to life as Maria Riva did and does.

What a Character, What a Saintly Patient & Intelligent Daughter

Maria Riva deserves not only a Medal of Honor for surviving her self-absorbed, tornado-of-destruction of a mother, but also should be lauded for her incredible talent as a writer. Throughout the highly-entertaining book, I found myself wanting to jot down some of her beautifully worded prose, to revisit and soak in at a later time.

More than anything, I was impressed with Riva’s keen, razor-sharp sense of humor and appreciation of the absurd - both qualities she clearly inherited from her mother. Riva’s, however, is manifested with humanity and class, without the cruel, downright meanness (and lack of respect and graciousness) of the vapid legend.

Excellent audio performance on this one, as well. The actor really captured the tone and personalities of both mother and daughter. Highly recommended!. Please write more, Ms. Riva!

A very detailed lengthy story of an icon

I enjoyed this book. Towards the end it seemed a bit too long. SO much detail. I do feel I have a glimpse of this icon. Very interesting as it spoke of many celebrities, presidents, the Queen Mary, (early 1900-90’s.

Unbelievably Great !!!

Just written so well and your totally involved with the story. Just try it, trust me !!!

Fantastic!

This book was absolutely amazing. I loved hearing about her mother, Marlene Dietrich; however, Madame Riva’s life story is the real story here and I walked away from this book feeling a bit gutted as it resembled my own childhood on some levels. Having a self-absorbed, narcissistic mother who, while she did many great things, really hurt the people closest to her in her wake and Madame Riva never had her own childhood. I applaud her courage for speaking her truth and sharing her story!

Wow

I mean wow! This book by Maria Riva is startling in it's length, depth and insights. Beautifully written as well. For such subject matter finding the right narrator is so difficult and Christa Lewis does and AMAZING job.

Marvelous and Troubling

This book couldn't be more personal and thorough if it had been drafted by her shadow. In some sense, that was the author's role. Beyond Dietrich and Riva's own memories are all the artifacts a biographer would dream of possessing: first person accounts, diaries, photographs, telegrams and letters -- to and from Marlene and her many lovers, female and male. She planned for her daughter to write this and gave Maria total access. You will live Marlene's life from privileged start to unimaginable finish. A thunderous standing ovation to the narrator who seems to speak without need for pause for 33 hours with arresting, gentle, lulling tones. It's a masterful accomplishment to pour through so many painful and scandalous true-life tales with such delicacy. It works in large measure because the writing is enthralling. The whole romantic story of her mother and Maria's unromantic relationship to the legend. Aspects of this tale are disturbing, reprehensible, captivating, sexy, and fantastic.

Phenomenal

The story of Dietrich & Maria’s life is one like I’ve never heard. Her writing style is so intricate, you truly feel as if you’re with Maria as she tells her story. The narration is spot on, and could not have been done better by Marlene herself. Maria, seemed to be the only adult in the room, even as a child. What an incredible story.

Excellent

Maria's book tells multiple stories woven into one: Dietrich's career, surrounding culture and history (notably WW1 & WW2), and Maria's story. The filmography and history is very interesting, but what makes this an excellent book to me is Maria's story. I was particularly compelled by Maria's conveying her complicated experience of her mother as an adult. Maria conveyed so well the struggle of having a complicated (I would say Narcissistic Personality, although to be clear Maria never labeled her mother as such) parent, and the experience of loving, despising, admiring, fearing, hating, and feel great compassion for that complicated parent. Frankly, as someone with a complicated parent, I found Maria's writing especially touching and compelling.

As a reader I really admired Dietrich's many strengths and achievements, hated her cruelty, pitied her shallowness, and felt empathy for Maria, and admired Maria's strengths. Maria's story feels honest. I walk away both admiring and despising Dietrich, the legend. I also got a few history lessons, which were very well written and I'll be likely to remember!

The narrator did a superb job as well. Overall a very good listen.

Very interesting

So detailed. It is long and drawn out but amazing! How Riva remembers everything. Lots of names and good gossip