The Girls: Sappho Goes to Hollywood

The Girls: Sappho Goes to Hollywood examines the hidden relationships and social networks of Hollywood's leading actresses during the 1920s and 1930s. Through extensive research and interviews, Diana McLellan reconstructs the private lives of stars like Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, and Tallulah Bankhead. The book traces connections between the influential "Sewing Circle" - a group of prominent Hollywood women who gathered regularly away from the public eye. McLellan investigates their relationships, careers, and the ways they navigated the strict moral codes and studio control of early Hollywood. This historical account provides context about the film industry's power structures and social climate of the era. The narrative follows multiple intersecting lives while exploring how these women maintained their privacy and careers. The book offers perspective on how sexuality, power, and identity functioned in early Hollywood, revealing patterns that still resonate with modern celebrity culture and LGBTQ history.

Most readers found this book entertaining but questionable in its accuracy and scholarship. Many comments note it reads more like gossip than serious history. Readers appreciated: - The fascinating glimpses into 1930s Hollywood - Details about lesser-known relationships between actresses - The engaging, conversational writing style - Photos and first-hand accounts Common criticisms: - Reliance on unnamed sources and speculation - Sensationalized tone that undermines credibility - Factual errors and unsubstantiated claims - Disorganized structure that jumps between time periods "More Hollywood tabloid than legitimate biography" notes one Amazon reviewer. Another writes "Fun read but take it with a grain of salt." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (1,024 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (89 reviews) LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (21 ratings) Review consensus suggests reading it as entertainment rather than authoritative history, with several readers comparing it to a "guilty pleasure beach read."

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1. ⭐ Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich, despite both denying ever meeting each other, were photographed together at a party in Berlin in 1925 while working on silent films - a discovery that helped spark McLellan's investigation. 2. 🎬 The book's research reveals that Mercedes de Acosta, a playwright and socialite, maintained romantic relationships with both Garbo and Dietrich, serving as a central figure in Hollywood's sapphic social circle. 3. 📝 McLellan spent seven years researching the book, poring through more than 400 oral histories at USC's cinema library and conducting numerous interviews with surviving members of Hollywood's golden age. 4. 🎭 The "Sewing Circle" was a code name for a group of prominent lesbian and bisexual actresses in Hollywood, including Tallulah Bankhead, Barbara Stanwyck, and Marlene Dietrich, who gathered regularly to protect their privacy. 5. 📚 The author was a veteran Washington Post and Washington Star journalist, known for her sharp wit and comprehensive research into Hollywood's golden age, having written the "The Ear" gossip column for many years.