As the leading sex symbol of the 1950's, Marilyn Monroe captivated movie audiences in such films as The Seven Year Itch, Bus Stop and Some Like It Hot. Yet behind the glamour was a sensitive, frightened, painfully vul- nerable woman forced to maintain the image of a mind- less, always accessible female. In her amply illustrated book, Joan Mellen offers a brilliantly original analysis of Marilyn Monroe's life and career, and a deeply compas- sionate portrait of an unforgettable star.