The Blue Butterfly: A Novel of Marion Davies
Leslie Johansen Nack
May 2022 · Sold by Simon and Schuster
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About this ebook
2023 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards Gold Medal, Fiction: Historical
“The book reads as if it really is Davies’ autobiography . . . . a timely reminder of what women would have been up against in Hollywood.”
—Historical Novel Society
“The Blue Butterfly is a vibrant period novel that reimagines the controversial love story of a classic film star.”
—Foreword Reviews
New York 1915, Marion Davies is a shy eighteen-year-old beauty dancing on the Broadway stage when she meets William Randolph Hearst and finds herself captivated by his riches, passion and desire to make her a movie star. Following a whirlwind courtship, she learns through trial and error to live as Hearst’s mistress when a divorce from his wife proves impossible. A baby girl is born in secret in 1919 and they agree to never acknowledge her publicly as their own. In a burgeoning Hollywood scene, she works hard making movies while living a lavish partying life that includes a secret love affair with Charlie Chaplin. In late 1937, at the height of the depression, Hearst wrestles with his debtors and failing health, when Marion loans him $1M when nobody else will. Together, they must confront the movie that threatens to invalidate all of Marion’s successes in the movie industry: Citizen Kane.
“The book reads as if it really is Davies’ autobiography . . . . a timely reminder of what women would have been up against in Hollywood.”
—Historical Novel Society
“The Blue Butterfly is a vibrant period novel that reimagines the controversial love story of a classic film star.”
—Foreword Reviews
New York 1915, Marion Davies is a shy eighteen-year-old beauty dancing on the Broadway stage when she meets William Randolph Hearst and finds herself captivated by his riches, passion and desire to make her a movie star. Following a whirlwind courtship, she learns through trial and error to live as Hearst’s mistress when a divorce from his wife proves impossible. A baby girl is born in secret in 1919 and they agree to never acknowledge her publicly as their own. In a burgeoning Hollywood scene, she works hard making movies while living a lavish partying life that includes a secret love affair with Charlie Chaplin. In late 1937, at the height of the depression, Hearst wrestles with his debtors and failing health, when Marion loans him $1M when nobody else will. Together, they must confront the movie that threatens to invalidate all of Marion’s successes in the movie industry: Citizen Kane.
2023 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards Gold Medal, Fiction: Historical
“The book reads as if it really is Davies’ autobiography . . . . a timely reminder of what women would have been up against in Hollywood.”
—Historical Novel Society
“The Blue Butterfly is a vibrant period novel that reimagines t...
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About the author
Leslie Johansen Nack is the author of three award-winning books: her debut memoir, Fourteen, its sequel, Nineteen, and her historical novel, The Blue Butterfly. She graduated from UCLA with a degree in English literature and overcame past traumas to raise two children in a healthy, loving home. Nack is a member of The Authors’ Guild, The Historical Novel Society, and the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. She lives outside Seattle with her husband of thirty-five years. You can find more about Leslie and her work at www.lesliejohansennack.com.
Leslie Johansen Nack is the author of three award-winning books: her debut memoir, Fourteen, its sequel, Nineteen, and her historical novel, The Blue Butterfly. She graduated from UCLA with a degree in English literature and overcame past traumas to raise two children in a healthy, loving home. N...
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