In 1945, Anne Welles leaves her quiet New England home for New York City, where she finds work at a theatrical agency. She befriended Neely O’Hara, a talented vaudeville performer, and Jennifer North, a beautiful showgirl. Over two decades, all three women ascend to the heights of Broadway and Hollywood, only to find their personal lives collapsing under the weight of failed marriages and professional exhaustion. To cope with the relentless pressure and insomnia, they turn to "dolls," the nicknames they use for prescription barbiturates like Seconal and Nembutal.
Readers interested in the history of the mid-century entertainment industry value this narrative for its blunt portrayal of addiction and systemic sexism. It attracts those seeking a candid look at the high personal cost of celebrity and the cyclical nature of dependency. The reader finishes the book with a clear understanding of the transactional nature of fame and the reality that professional success rarely provides emotional stability. It serves as a stark chronicle of how institutional pressures can drive individuals toward pharmacological escape.
Practical and escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1966
- Language
- EN
