Marlene Dietrich: The Life 

Marlene Dietrich: The Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Edition

Celebrate the life of a true icon with this landmark biography by Maria Riva, daughter of Marlene Dietrich. Now in a special twenty-fifth anniversary edition, this book reveals the full, untold story of Dietrich’s extraordinary life, career, and legacy.

From her childhood in Berlin to her rise on the 1920s stage, Dietrich dazzled with her wit, bisexuality, and revolutionary style—making the top hat and tails a symbol of modern femininity. She stunned audiences, challenged societal norms, and maintained the aloof glamour of a true star.

Riva offers a deeply personal perspective: “At age three, I knew quite definitely that I didn’t have a mother, I belonged to a queen.” Marlene Dietrich comes alive as muse, actress, lover, wife, mother, and fearless public figure, standing up to the Nazis and inspiring American troops, eventually earning the Congressional Medal of Freedom.

• Rich artistic collaborations with Josef von Sternberg, Colette, Erich Maria Remarque, Noël Coward, and Cole Porter
• Heady romances, career triumphs, and public defiance of societal norms
• Insightful personal reflections from her daughter, Maria Riva
• Includes black-and-white photographs throughout

This biography captures the depth, passion, and complexity of Marlene Dietrich, offering a vivid portrait of one of the 20th century’s most remarkable women.