The Girls in the Picture

A Novel

By: Melanie Benjamin

Narrated by: Kimberly Farr

From the New York Times best-selling author of The Swans of Fifth Avenue and The Aviator’s Wife, a “rich exploration of two Hollywood friends who shaped the movies” (USA Today) - screenwriter Frances Marion and superstar Mary Pickford.

“Full of Old Hollywood glamour and true details about the pair’s historic careers...a captivating ode to a legendary bond.” (Real Simple)

Named one of the best books of the year by Real Simple.

It is 1914, and 25-year-old Frances Marion has left her (second) husband and her Northern California home for the lure of Los Angeles, where she is determined to live independently as an artist. But the word on everyone's lips these days is "flickers" - the silent moving pictures enthralling theatergoers. Turn any corner in this burgeoning town and you'll find made-up actors running around, as a movie camera captures it all.

In this fledgling industry, Frances finds her true calling: writing stories for this wondrous new medium. She also makes the acquaintance of actress Mary Pickford, whose signature golden curls and lively spirit have earned her the title "America's Sweetheart". The two ambitious young women hit it off instantly, their kinship fomented by their mutual fever to create, to move audiences to a frenzy, to start a revolution.

But their ambitions are challenged by both the men around them and the limitations imposed on their gender - and their astronomical success could come at a price. As Mary, the world's highest paid and most beloved actress, struggles to live her life under the spotlight, she also wonders if it is possible to find love, even with the dashing actor Douglas Fairbanks. Frances, too, longs to share her life with someone. As in any good Hollywood story, dramas will play out, personalities will clash, and even the deepest friendships might be shattered.

With cameos from such notables as Charlie Chaplin, Louis B. Mayer, Rudolph Valentino, and Lillian Gish, The Girls in the Picture is, at its heart, a story of friendship and forgiveness. Melanie Benjamin perfectly captures the dawn of a glittering new era - its myths and icons, its possibilities and potential, and its seduction and heartbreak.

“A boffo production.... Inspiration is a rare and unexpected gift in a book filled with the fluff of Hollywood, but Benjamin provides it with The Girls in the Picture.” (NPR)

“Profoundly resonant, The Girls in the Picture is at its core, an empowering and fascinating tale of sisterhood.” (Bryce Dallas Howard)

©2018 Melanie Benjamin (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Melanie Benjamin, known for her living, breathing portraits of famous figures, takes on the Golden Age of Hollywood, and the friendship between icons Mary Pickford and screenwriter Frances Marion. As riveting as the latest blockbuster, this is a star-studded story of female friendships, creative sparks about to ignite, and the power of women. Dazzling." (Caroline Leavitt, New York Times best-selling author of Pictures of You and Cruel Beautiful World)

"Set at the dawn of Hollywood, The Girls in the Picture explores the friendship between renowned starlet Mary Pickford and screenwriter Frances Marion. With the artistry for which she has become renowned, Melanie Benjamin has simultaneously created an insightful tale of the relationship between writer and muse and a breathtaking view into Hollywood's most glittering era." (Pam Jenoff, New York Times best-selling author of The Orphan's Tale)

"Melanie Benjamin's The Girls in the Picture is a scintillating journey back in time to the gritty and glamorous days of old Hollywood. With elegant prose and delicious historical detail, Benjamin delivers a timely tale of female friendship - and the powerful duo who dared to dream beyond the narrow roles into which they'd been cast." (Allison Pataki, New York Times best-selling author of Where the Light Falls and Sisi)

Fabulous

I truly like the author and have read several of her other books. It’s difficult to remember that she writes biographical novels. I have read nonfiction about this era in films so they melded together. Great book that I highly recommend. Issues with successful women don’t seem to have changed much!

Disappointing

A big disappointment. I've enjoyed this author's previous books, but this was a bore. In the dedication, the author thanks an editor who "rescued this from the slush pile". It should have been left there, or at least been given a MAJOR rewrite. I'm sorry to be cruel, but this was really dull.

More Fran, a little less Mary.

I enjoyed learning more about the life and career of Francis Marion. The Mary Pickford portions weren’t as interesting. I found the narrator completely wrong to voice these young, vibrant women.

beautiful story of two women

I loved this book. i have always been fascinated with the early stars of the movies. This book was fun and tragic and everything in between. The author does a great job of giving the characters a voice.

Melanie Benjamin is the master of this genre.

Nobody writes character-centric historical fiction better than Melanie Benjamin. Her story of Frances Marion, Mary Pickford and the early days of Hollywood is not only entertaining, but informative and enlightening as well.

As for the narration: Kimberly Farr is a fantastic actress, and I will definitely listen to other books she narrates.

interesting subject, a bit melodramatic

I like old Hollywood stories. this historical fiction had some interesting info, but the dramatization didn't work for me.

Narration kills it

I think I might have tolerated the book quite a bit more had the narration not been so horribly overdone. It was really hard to listen to.

Stick with it

Story is hard to get into but is interesting. It serves as good background to current Hollywood.

You will want to know more...

As always with one of Melanie Benjamin’s novels, I want to know more. Her writing makes me ask questions, do research, and read more about the stars of her books. I’m addicted to historical fiction and old movies so here I had a combination of both. Another wonderful story of days gone by that made me to read through until the end with hardly a break...

If you’re a movie buff-this book is for you!

I absolutely loved this book. I find the history of early Hollywood and the growth of the film industry to be fascinating.
I never knew much about Mary Pickford and I knew nothing about screen writer Frances Marion. It is truly amazing how much women influenced the movies.
Although almost all studio heads were men, this industry paved the way for the women of today.
I am grateful to these women who let nothing stop them and realized the force that women’s friendship could make almost anything possible.