The Purple Diaries

The Purple Diaries is absolutely fantastic. From the moment I started it, I truly could not put it down. Admittedly, I am fascinated by this time period in Hollywood and have recently read a number of books about this era so the subject matter appeals to me very much. Before I read The Purple Diaries, I knew very little about Mary Astor and her long, varied life and careers. Joseph Egan conducted an incredible amount of research to write this book, and his attention to detail really adds a lot. There is so much drama that the story reads like a well-written soap opera that involves various famous actors, actresses and other Hollywood players from that era. Throughout the story, Egan includes a number of photos and newspaper articles which significantly contribute to the storyline. Without these additions, I would not have enjoyed the story quite as much – it truly makes the story come alive, and I loved pouring over the old photos.

The focus of The Purple Diaries is the custody dispute between Mary Astor and her second husband Franklin Thorpe over their young daughter Marylyn. The story is not a particularly happy one, but the independence and strength Mary Astor showed to pursue such an issue as a female in the 1930’s was nothing short of amazing. The fact that she was able to endure such controversy during that time period and continue with her career as an actress (she even goes on to win an Academy Award) is quite impressive. Egan interviewed and communicated with Marylyn Thorpe while writing the book and includes a chapter at the end that conveys Marylyn’s thoughts on her childhood and relationship with both her mother and her father. In addition to summarizing the rest of Mary Astor’s life, Egan also takes the time to quickly follow the timeline of several other of the major characters in the drama including Franklin Thorpe and his parents, George Kaufman, and Ruth Chatterton. I really appreciated knowing how their lives played out too.

I highly recommend The Purple Diaries; Joseph Egan spent a substantial amount of time and effort researching Mary Astor with a particular focus on the custody dispute, and it really paid off. Thanks to Diversion Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This will probably be one of my favorite books of the year. Certainly one of my favorite non fiction titles. It read like fiction and provided just the right amount of backstory before jumping into the court case. I loved all the pictures that were included and I wish that was the norm for all non fiction because it really added to the story. The ending was perfect as well, and I was thrilled to know what had happened to all the main people mentioned. Well done.

Meticulously and painstakingly researched, this account of the custody battle of one of America’s leading actresses, Mary Astor, for her daughter makes for some compelling reading and offers the reader a glimpse into the sometimes murky world of 1930s Hollywood. Overall I enjoyed it but I also found it rather too detailed as the court transcripts – although I accept that perhaps they needed to be there – make for some repetitive reading. Some well-chosen photographs and newspaper headlines add to the immediacy, and as I knew nothing about any of the characters involved I was both intrigued and occasionally horrified by the way some of them behaved. A mostly compelling read if overly long.

Wow! I knew of Mary Astor from the Maltese Falcon, so did not know the sensational scandal and trial that surrounded her in the 30s. This book, the forward is written by her great-granddaughter, uses her diaries and photos of the main players in this scandalous trial of the mid-30s. Well written and hard to put down. It reads like a Perry Mason story, and kept me turning the page to see what will happen next. The press and public were obsessed with it and could see why. Definitely a story I highly would recommend. Makes me want to check out more of her movies now.