Her unforgettable image is seared into the minds of fans everywhere, and her private life continues to inspire headlines and controversy, but Marilyn Monroe is one of the most famous—and misunderstood—women in the world and remains a mystery to most people. Hello, Norma Jeane cuts through the rumors and myths to present the real person behind the queen of movies and pop culture.

From her chaotic childhood in Depression-era Los Angeles to her rise in the world of Hollywood and finally her untimely death—Hello, Norma Jeane explores the legendary star’s family history, connection to the movies from childhood, her personal life as an adult, and her interest in continually educating herself.

Hello, Norma Jeane is compulsively readable—instead of chronological dates and dry accounts of events, there are chapters about specific aspects of her life and career. What did Marilyn like to eat? What types of books did she read? Was she really plus size? Did she nearly bring down a political empire? And how did she actually die? This book explores everything—and vividly brings to light the truth about the world’s greatest movie star.

ELISA JORDAN is a respected writer, editor, and historian whose work has appeared in a variety of publications. She has been studying Marilyn Monroe since the age of five, after seeing Gentlemen Prefer Blondes on TV, and is currently regarded as a leading authority on Marilyn. She also gives tours devoted to Marilyn, Jean Harlow, the Doors, and rock n roll in Hollywood, a role that led her to help cofound the Los Angeles Tour Guides Association. She lives in Los Angeles.

“Hello, Norma Jeane features an impressive collection of facts about Marilyn Monroe, organized in an easy-to-read fashion. A valuable resource for both Monroe enthusiasts and those curious to learn more about the real woman behind the iconic images. I applaud Elisa Jordan’s hard work in pulling together many historical documents, and her determination to show the full complexity of Monroe. There’s much to delve into here, and with all of this information, Hello, Norma Jeane goes some way in correcting the many inconsistencies, falsehoods, and conspiracy theories that have tainted Marilyn Monroe’s remarkable achievements as a woman in Hollywood.”

—Alicia Malone, author and Turner Classic Movies host

"Even those who think they know Marilyn Monroe’s story will find Hello, Norma Jeane eye-opening. Elisa Jordan blends rigorous research with empathetic resolve to reject rumors and reset the record. A fascinating read for both casual fans and completists alike."

—Elizabeth Weitzman, author of Renegade Women in Film & TV

“With Hello, Norma Jeane, Elisa Jordan has written an engaging primer for those wanting to become acquainted with Marilyn Monroe or for MM fans wanting a refresher on the main beats of her life and career. Jordan has done Marilyn a great service by challenging some of the greatest misconceptions or outright fabrications relating to the actress’s life and untimely death. A great read for diehard or aspiring fans of this enduring and endearing Hollywood legend.”

—Christina Rice, author of Mean ... Moody ... Magnificent!: Jane Russell and the Marketing of a Hollywood Legend

“Even longstanding Marilyn Monroe scholars will learn new details in this meticulously researched book authored by Monroe expert Elisa Jordan. Everything you wanted to know about Marilyn is served up in a unique format, with topics both broad and specific, that fans will readily devour. A fascinating read!”

—Caren Roberts-Frenzel, author of Rita Hayworth: A Photographic Retrospective

“Elisa Jordan beautifully lays out Marilyns life and times with Hello, Norma Jeane. Whether youve read one or 100 books on Marilyn, this one takes a sensitive, thought-provoking look at her life story in a way that gets at the heart of who Norma Jeane Baker was. A must-read for Marilyn Monroe fans, as well as those who love Old Hollywood!”

—Kristen Lopez, author of But Have You Read the Book?: 52 Literary Gems That Inspired Our Favorite Movies

“As an author of historical biography, I know the importance of learning about someone’s family history. To understand your subject, you must know where they came from, what forces in their family system shaped them. Elisa Jordan has taken us on a journey to understand Norma Jeane based solely on heavily researched facts. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the world that Marilyn Monroe moved in; from locations, to homes, to friends, to lovers, and in so doing, even for just a moment, to walk in Monroe’s footsteps.

—Darrell Rooney, coauthor of Harlow in Hollywood: The Blonde Bombshell in the Glamour Capital, 1928-1937

“This unique book is a treasure trove of information, for fans new and old. It is an extraordinary book by a remarkable author.”

—Michelle Morgan, author of Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed and When Marilyn Met the Queen: Marilyn Monroe’s Life in England

“Hollywood historian Elisa Jordan offers a comprehensive account of all things Marilyn Monroe in her latest book about the multi-layered actress, Hello, Norma Jeane: The Marilyn Monroe You Didn’t Know. For those seeking concise and accurate information about the icon’s remarkable life without committing to a dense biography, Jordan provides forty-four chapters in magazine-style format. Topics range from Monroe’s genealogy, ascent to stardom, multiple residences, major life events, motion picture career, inner circle, prescribed beauty regimen, triumphs, and death. In this age of misinformation and disinformation, Jordan can be trusted as a legitimate researcher who debunks decades of outrageous myths in succinct, easy-to-read language. If you wish to go on a journey to find the real Marilyn Monroe, this is your treasure map, written by a reliable guide. Digesting this condensed, Cliff Notes version of a storied, complex life will make you a conversational expert on Marilyn Monroe at the next cocktail or dinner party you attend.”

—Gary Vitacco-Robles, author of Cursum Perficio: Marilyn Monroe’s Brentwood Hacienda, Icon: The Life, Times, and Films of Marilyn Monroe, and Icon: What Killed Marilyn Monroe, and cohost of the podcast “Marilyn: Behind the Icon.”