{"title":"Gail Crowther","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to our collection featuring the insightful works of \u003cem\u003eGail Crowther\u003c\/em\u003e, a distinguished author renowned for her extensive exploration into the lives of iconic figures. Specialising in the \u003cstrong\u003eBiography \u0026amp; Memoir\u003c\/strong\u003e genre, Crowther brings to life captivating narratives that offer an intimate glimpse into the people behind the personas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHer book, \u003cem\u003eDorothy Parker in Hollywood\u003c\/em\u003e, delves into the wit and wisdom of one of the twentieth century’s most celebrated writers, exploring Parker's vibrant life amidst Hollywood glamour and literary fame. With \u003cem\u003eMarilyn And Her Books\u003c\/em\u003e, Crowther peers through the looking glass to examine Marilyn Monroe, revealing her intellectual depth and the profound influence books had on her life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThree-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz\u003c\/em\u003e presents a dual portrait of two sensational poets, exploring how their paths intertwined with creative sparks and personal challenges during the bohemian era of the mid-20th century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGail Crowther’s work uncovers the nuances of culture, personality, and the literary world, making her books an essential read for anyone intrigued by the stories behind legendary figures. Dive into this collection and discover the unexpected tales that shaped cultural icons through Crowther's masterful storytelling.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"three-martini-afternoons-at-the-ritz","title":"Three-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn this vividly rendered and empathetic biography of two of the greatest poets of the 20\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e century—Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton—\u003c\/strong\u003e“the friendship and rivalry that the pair shared—not to mention the titular cocktails at a Boston hotel—is explored in fascinating detail” (\u003ci\u003eTown \u0026amp; Country\u003c\/i\u003e).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIntroduced at a poetry workshop in Boston University, Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton formed a friendship that would soon evolve into a fierce rivalry, coloured by jealousy and respect in equal terms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the years that followed, these two women would not only become iconic figures in literature, but also lead curiously parallel lives haunted by mental illness, suicide attempts, self-doubt, and difficult personal relationships. With weekly martini meetings at the Ritz to discuss everything from sex to suicide, theirs was a relationship as complex and subversive as their poetry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBased on in-depth research and unprecedented archival access, \u003ci\u003eThree-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz\u003c\/i\u003e will leave you “hungering for more of what these two literary comets burned with: the power of a little poetry. Deliriously fast-paced and erudite, this is highly recommended” (\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45687169843436,"sku":"9781982138424","price":29.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781982138424_8ac4357b-1c7f-4ac8-aa3d-8eb26fc89e3f.jpg?v=1733009331"},{"product_id":"dorothy-parker-in-hollywood-by-gail-crowther-9781982185794","title":"Dorothy Parker in Hollywood","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn expansive, illuminating, and “welcome addition to understand” (\u003ci\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/i\u003e) the legendary writer Dorothy Parker, this unique biography explores her life and legacy in Hollywood—from the author of the “fascinating” (\u003ci\u003eTown \u0026amp; Country\u003c\/i\u003e) \u003ci\u003eThree Martini Afternoons at the Ritz\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe glamorous extravagances and devastating lows of her time in Hollywood are revealed as never before in this “ambitious, thoughtfully researched” (\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e) biography of Dorothy Parker. From leaving New York City to work on numerous classic screenplays such as the 1937 \u003ci\u003eA Star Is Born\u003c\/i\u003e to the devastation of alcoholism, a miscarriage, and her husband’s suicide, Parker's experiences are vividly recounted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eParker’s involvement with anti-fascist and anti-racist groups, which led to her ultimate blacklisting, and her early work in the civil rights movement that inspired her to leave her entire estate to the NAACP are also explored as never before.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e“Briskly detailed, fluently insightful, and dramatically reorienting” (\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review), \u003ci\u003eDorothy Parker in Hollywood\u003c\/i\u003e brings the iconic writer back to life on the page in all her wit, grit, and brilliance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46627112485100,"sku":"9781982185794","price":57.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/20467473482893.jpg?v=1751879387"},{"product_id":"marilyn-and-her-books-by-gail-crowther-9781472161062","title":"Marilyn And Her Books","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eTimed to the 100th birthday of Marilyn Monroe, and with the full cooperation of the Monroe estate, comes an investigation into the literary life of the iconic actress, from the author of \u003ci\u003eThree-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eDorothy Parker in Hollywood\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFar from the spotlights of the Hollywood film sets and the flashbulbs of the press, Marilyn Monroe was a great reader and lover of books. Her association with writers did not stop at reading their words on the page. She was, of course, briefly married to one of America's best-known playwrights, Arthur Miller, and through him met a number of other writers who moved in his literary world. But she also met authors independently of Miller, many of whom were fans of her films and keen to meet her.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThrough her deep research, Crowther delves into Marilyn's personal collection of books, and recounts some of these meetings, like the time Monroe shared an apartment with Shelley Winters in West Hollywood, where they invited and entertained Dylan Thomas and Christopher Isherwood for drinks (probably several drinks), after which Monroe arranged for Thomas to meet his childhood hero, Charlie Chaplin. Or when \u003cem\u003eLife\u003c\/em\u003e magazine arranged for Monroe to be interviewed by Dame Edith Sitwell at the Sunset Tower Hotel in the hope that Monroe would embarrass herself and Sitwell tear her to shreds. Their hopes were shattered when Sitwell was both charmed and blown away by Monroe's intelligence, and they subsequently became friends, later meeting in London and New York.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eMarilyn And Her Books\u003c\/i\u003e: The Literary Life of Marilyn Monroe will chart how Monroe, who left high school before graduation, embarked on an impressive and progressive programme of self-education, hungry for knowledge, and devouring books as an active and engaged reader. Her personal library reflects this enquiring mind. It is therefore fitting that in 1999, many years after her death, the sale of her books raised well over half a million dollars, which was donated to Literary Partners, a non-profit organisation in New York, dedicated to promoting adult literacy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2026, for her centenary, this book will showcase Marilyn Monroe, the reader. Because at the end of her life, it was not her jewels or her furs, her shoes, or dresses that she cared about. It was her books.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47310138999020,"sku":"9781472161062","price":32.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781472161062.jpg?v=1780886494"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/gail-crowther.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}