Captain of Her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies.

Northern California Book Awards Shortlist The comprehensive critical biography of silent-screen star Marion Davies, who fittingly referred to herself as "the captain of my soul." From Marion Davies's humble days in Brooklyn to her rise to fame alongside press baron William Randolph Hearst, the public life story of the film star plays like a modern fairy tale shaped by gossip columnists, fan magazines, biopics, and documentaries. Yet the real Marion Davies remained largely hidden from view, as she was wary of interviews and trusted few with her true life story. In Captain of Her Soul , Lara Gabrielle pulls back layers of myth to show a complex and fiercely independent woman, ahead of her time, who carved her own path. Through meticulous research, unprecedented access to archives around the world, and interviews with those who knew Davies, Captain of Her Soul counters the public story. This book reveals a woman who navigated disability and social stigma to rise to the top of a young Hollywood dominated by powerful men. Davies took charge of her own career, negotiating with studio heads and establishing herself as a top-tier comedienne, but her proudest achievement was her philanthropy and advocacy for children. This biography brings Davies out of the shadows cast by the Hearst legacy, shedding light on a dynamic woman who lived life on her own terms and declared that she was "the captain of her soul." The comprehensive critical biography of silent-screen star Marion Davies, who fittingly referred to herself as "the captain of my soul."
 
From Marion Davies's humble days in Brooklyn to her rise to fame alongside press baron William Randolph Hearst, the public life story of the film star plays like a modern fairy tale shaped by gossip columnists, fan magazines, biopics, and documentaries. Yet the real Marion Davies remained largely hidden from view, as she was wary of interviews and trusted few with her true life story. In Captain of Her Soul, Lara Gabrielle pulls back layers of myth to show a complex and fiercely independent woman, ahead of her time, who carved her own path.

Through meticulous research, unprecedented access to archives around the world, and interviews with those who knew Davies, Captain of Her Soul counters the public story. This book reveals a woman who navigated disability and social stigma to rise to the top of a young Hollywood dominated by powerful men. Davies took charge of her own career, negotiating with studio heads and establishing herself as a top-tier comedienne, but her proudest achievement was her philanthropy and advocacy for children. This biography brings Davies out of the shadows cast by the Hearst legacy, shedding light on a dynamic woman who lived life on her own terms and declared that she was "the captain of her soul." The comprehensive critical biography of silent-screen starMarion Davies, who fittingly referred to herself as "the captain ofmy soul." From Marion Davies's humble days in Brooklyn toher rise to fame alongside press baron William Randolph Hearst, thepublic life story of the film star plays like a modern fairy taleshaped by gossip columnists, fan magazines, biopics, anddocumentaries. Yet the real Marion Davies remained largely hiddenfrom view, as she was wary of interviews and trusted few with hertrue life story. In Captain of Her Soul, Lara Gabriellepulls back layers of myth to show a complex and fiercelyindependent woman, ahead of her time, who carved her own path.Through meticulous research, unprecedented access to archivesaround the world, and interviews with those who knew Davies,Captain of Her Soul counters the public story. This bookreveals a woman who navigated disability and social stigma to riseto the top of a young Hollywood dominated by powerful men. Daviestook charge of her own career, negotiating with studio heads andestablishing herself as a top-tier comedienne, but her proudestachievement was her philanthropy and advocacy for children. Thisbiography brings Davies out of the shadows cast by the Hearstlegacy, shedding light on a dynamic woman who lived life on her ownterms and declared that she was "the captain of her soul." "For many decades, Marion Davies's story has been a source of fascination to the public. From her humble days in Brooklyn to her rise to fame alongside press baron William Randolph Hearst, her story seems like a modern fairy tale. Gossip columnists and fan magazines have tried to capture her unique story for over one hundred years, and biopics and documentaries have tried to incorporate her story into countless screenplays. Amid the interest, the real Marion Davies has been largely hidden. Due to her wariness of strangers and the press, she shied away from interviews and trusted very few with the details of her own unusual life story. Captain of Her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies lifts that veil to explore the life of this remarkable woman in detail. Through meticulous archival research, letters, notes, tapes, and interviews with family and friends, a woman emerges of enormous strength and resolve. Faced with many challenges in her life, Davies weathered the storms with her head held high. She was a woman who remained in control of her own destiny, and who aptly referred to herself as 'captain of my soul.'"-- Provided by publisher