Marilyn Monroe, Superman, & the Nazis

Past event
Mar 10, 2023, 5 to 6 PM

Family lore had it that Bonnie Siegler's grandfather crossed paths in Midtown Manhattan late one night in 1954 with Marilyn Monroe, her white dress flying up around her as she filmed a scene for "The Seven Year Itch. "

Jules Schulback had his home movie camera with him, capturing what would become the only surviving footage of that legendary night. Bonnie wasn't sure she quite believed her grandfather's story…until, cleaning out his apartment, she found the film reel. The discovery would prompt her to investigate all of her grandfather's seemingly tall tales—and lead her in pursuit of a remarkable piece of forgotten history bridging old Hollywood, the birth of the comic book, and the Holocaust.

The Brattleboro Literary Festival invites you this Friday at 5 pm. to our Zoom Literary Cocktail Hour with authors Helene Stapinski and Bonnie Siegler to discuss their book "The American Way: A True Story of Nazi Escape, Superman, and Marilyn Monroe. "

In this exuberant real-life adventure, the publisher of DC Comics comes to the rescue of a family trying to flee Nazi Berlin, their lives linking up with a dazzling cast of 20th-century icons, all eagerly pursuing the American dream.

Helene Stapinski is the nationally bestselling author of three memoirs: "Five-Finger Discount," "Murder in Matera,"and "Baby Plays Around." She writes regularly for The New York Times & other national publications.

Bonnie Siegler is the founder and creative director of award-winning, multi-disciplinary graphic design studio Eight and a Half. She is the author of "Dear Client," a guide for people who work with creatives, and Signs of Resistance, a history of protest in America.

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