This is a fascinating, compelling and memorable insight and account into the life of remarkable woman. Despite being written by her son there is no sugarcoating here, he addresses her many struggles in life but does so with zero judgement and his personal anecdotes really added to the story.

I didn’t know a lot about Lee before reading this but I now feel like I know her so well and have great admiration for her, what an incredible life she led entirely on her own terms. This is an honest portrayal of her life and career both the good, hilarious, shocking, fun and dark. The title ‘The Lives of Lee Miller’ could not be more perfect because wow how many lives this woman led.

An incredible insight into an extraordinary woman.

This is such an intimate biography of Lee Miller. It’s possible to visualise many of the events perfectly in your minds eye.
Written by her son who takes an academic interest in the material he has access to, (which is outstanding) and pepper.s it with personal anecdotes, presumably directly from his parents and their friends, as he also supplements the text with documentary evidence of place, time, events and responses from those around them.
It’s not sugar coated, but it’s also not over emotional.
Lee struggles with alcohol dependency, post partum depression and has suffered from early childhood abuse and trauma, and the writer (her son remember ) chronicles all of this faithfully without judgement or unnecessary comment keeping the focus entirely on her.
There’s horror and humour, along with the glamour of having encountered pretty much every great modernist artist of the 20th century whilst commanding respect and admiration from pretty much all of them.
Lee Miller ultimately comes across as a talented, free spirit driven to create and drink in life including those surreal times when it becomes necessary to seek a massage from a banned gypsy travelling bear in Bucharest, Or to demand axlotls or hedgehogs to ensure a successful maternity!
Living life on her own terms and completely winning!
Can’t wait for the film

Wow, what a woman. Going her own way, making her own choices (photography, modelling, travelling, cooking...) and most of all being Lee Miller. I didn't know much of her, but I ended up admiring her. Even though she had to battle a lot of demons -she didn't want a diagnose-, she seemed to have found her way in life and pursued many talents.

This biography guides you through Lee's life without sugarcoating it. It's honest about her shortcomings while showcasing her many talents and many adventures she undertook in her life: all the trips, the lovers, the many professions she had... The writer is her son, a thing I was unaware of but at there wasn't where I felt that was in the way of the story.

What I enjoyed a lot in this biography are the primary sources that were cited. I listened to the audiobook and the only thing that annoyed me a bit were the 'foreign' accents. That wasn't really necessary. But the voices were super nice and especially 'Lee' was well casted.

Wow loved this one! The Lives of Lee Miller follows an extraordinary woman from her young adult years, to her time during the war, and across the span of the last century. I recommend this one to all !

From the most beautiful navel of Paris to a daring war correspondent and photographer, Lee Miller’s life is as outrageous as it is impressive.

Some highlights:
- Demanding to be Man Ray’s first student, living with him for 3 years, and developing so entwined a style that neither of them saw the point of distinguishing between their work.

- On one of her desert excursions, she surprised the dehydrated party with a cooler full of Martinis… A scientist she was not…

- When Picasso painted her portrait, she pre-empted her party guests’ negative comments on its likeness and prepared a room of art supplies. When the comments started to come in, she swung open the doors and invited them to try for themselves, ruining many cocktail dresses in the process.

- Took Hitler’s swastikaed and monogrammed tray from his house to serve drinks on.

- Insisted on being walked on by a Carpathian dancing bear to help her back pain. Despite the brutal persecution of Romas which had made Carpathian dancing bears somewhat scarce, she succeeded.

- This one is better as a quote: “This took hours of what she termed ‘boondoggling’, when she would find any number of things except the matter at hand to occupy herself with. As the deadline approached, the many alternatives to work seemed increasingly urgent. She would make love, hang around the bar and get drunk, argue, sleep, curse and rail, cry, in fact do anything rather than make a start on the article. She spent hours inventing mythical characters whose names were frightful bilingual puns”

- Dramatic irony around her ridicule of antifascism in the late 1930s and aesthetic displeasure with Palestine (“You only have to take a good look at the blasted place to be completely floored as to why everyone from the time of Moses has been screaming for that rotten county.”) is also fantastic.

Accepting applications now for any who wants to come visit her house in Sussex with me :)

A beautifully written manuscript about an unique woman's life.

A beautifully written manuscript about an unique woman's life.

After having listened to a podcast where the granddaughter of Lee Miller was interviewed about her life, I was fascinated and wanted to know more about this enigmatic, complex woman who clearly had such astonishing talent but also such a predilection for self destruction. This book was written by Antony Penrose, Lee's son, with whom he acknowledges in this book, he had a fairly rocky relationship. I understand that she kept much of her early life hidden from her family and to find that your mother was far more than you imagined must have been something of a shock but also a gift.

This is really interesting, well researched and full of fascinating details about Lee's life. As for the audio recording of the work, it was, I confess, not entirely pleasing. The narrator has quite a flat, style of delivery that slightly undermines the material he is delivering. I'm glad that they got a woman to read the extracts from Miller's diaries and letters, but I wish a woman had been chosen to read the entire book. I give the material five stars and the audio book, three stars.

Is a captivating and insightful biography that delves into the multifaceted life of Lee Miller, an extraordinary woman whose journey encompassed the roles of fashion model, muse, artist, and war correspondent. Written by her son, Antony Penrose, this book offers a deeply personal and well-researched perspective on a figure who navigated through the 20th century with remarkable audacity and resilience. One of the standout aspects of the book is Penrose's intimate portrayal of his mother. He doesn't shy away from exploring the complexities of her character, presenting Miller as a woman of contradictions. She was glamorous yet down-to-earth, courageous yet haunted by her experiences. This nuanced depiction makes her come alive on the pages, allowing readers to appreciate the depth of her personality and the challenges she faced. It is richly illustrated with photographs, many of which are Miller's own work. These images provide a visual complement to the narrative, showcasing her talent and offering a glimpse into her world. The photographs taken during her time as a war correspondent are particularly striking, capturing the raw realities of World War II and highlighting her bravery and skill as a photographer. Antony Penrose's writing is both engaging and informative. He seamlessly weaves together personal anecdotes, historical context, and excerpts from Miller's own writings to create a compelling narrative. The inclusion of letters and diary entries adds an authentic voice to the story, making it feel as though Miller herself is speaking to the reader. One of the most powerful sections of the book is Penrose's exploration of Miller's experiences during the war. Her work as a correspondent for Vogue took her to the front lines, where she documented the liberation of concentration camps and the aftermath of battle. These chapters are harrowing yet inspiring, reflecting Miller's unwavering dedication to revealing the truth through her lens. However, the book is not without its flaws. At times, the narrative can feel disjointed, with jumps between different periods of Miller's life that might confuse readers unfamiliar with her story. Additionally, while Penrose's admiration for his mother is evident, there are moments when his personal connection to the subject seems to gloss over some of her more troubling traits and actions. Overall, is a fascinating read that offers a comprehensive look at a woman who defied convention and made a lasting impact on both the art world and journalism. Antony Penrose has succeeded in crafting a tribute that is both heartfelt and enlightening, ensuring that Lee Miller's legacy will continue to inspire future generations. For those interested in art, photography, and history, this biography is a must-read. It not only sheds light on the life of a remarkable woman but also provides a vivid snapshot of the turbulent times in which she lived.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book!

I had the audio version which is my favourite way to consume biographies and this one definitely held up, though it was of course lacking the illustrations in the paperback version. Due to this i am absolutely going to grab a physical copy for myself.

The Lives of Lee Miller follows an extraordinary woman from her young adult years, to her time during the war, and across the span of the last century. Miller is undoubtably a fascinating woman and I confess I knew little of her before I saw this book, so I will forever be grateful to have come across it, and to the author, Miller's son, for writing it. The Lives of Lee Miller is an apt title for she had a multitude of experiences, meeting so many interesting people. This work has left me with a life-long admiration of Miller.

I love this biography. It gives the reader a fascinating insight into a fascinating woman. She wasn’t afraid of trying new things and had a go at everything, at a time when it was difficult to do so easily. The narration brings it all to life. Thank you to Net Galley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Anthony Penrose has written a remarkable and memorable account of his mother’s life. I hadn’t heard of this amazing lady; one whose life was varied beyond measure. Hers is an astonishing story.in every sense. In 1927, she was strikingly beautiful and after being ‘discovered’ by Condé Nast, featured on the cover of Vogue. A couple of years later, living in Paris with Man Ray, she worked with him to develop a new, surrealist photography technique. In a later incarnation, during the war years she became a US war correspondent and her photographs of Dachau shocked the world.

Her son has trawled her photographic archive which includes numerous photos of her friends; Braque, Picasso, Miró to name but a few and really does justice to an exceptional and multi talented lady. She lived her life on her terms but comes across as a lady of warmth, generosity and compassion. Her darke side, one scarred deeply by depression, is also depicted and give a balanced and rounded portrayal. I’ve really enjoyed this audio title, with excellent narration from both narrators. I believe the paper version includes numerous photos and have to say my interest in her and her subjects has been piqued by this title, A cracking biography.

A fascinating portrait of a woman who's done it all, with flair, style, and finesse. Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC/audiobook which I enjoyed immensely.