From the minute I started reading the book, I fell in love with Peggy and her life, the book is amazingly well written and includes small parts from Peggy's own memoirs which made me feel like I was getting to know Peggy as a person and not just reading about her.

I loved the book, it inspired me enormously and I would now buy anything I could find on Peggy, although sadly I have been able to find no other books on her.

I have no hesitation in recommending this book and am amazed to read the negative comments from other readers.

I love you Peggy!!!


Lorelei- Where are you?   October 30, 2002
Anita Loos was not just putting a fictional spin onto Lorelei Lee in the comedy Gentlemen Prefer Blondes- she was writing highly creative fiction. All that was sensational if forgiveable in the character was sordid and criminal in her real life inspiration. Peggy Hopkins Joyce could not, like the immortal temptress, sustain our interest or our tolerance for gold digging as the rightful occupation for goddesses and consumate sirens. Marilyn/Lorelei was the allure that drew me to this book, and as a marketing technique, it was brilliant The author, Constance Rosenbaum, deserves credit for her attempt to
broaden her study as the archetype for celebrity as a parasitic self-invention sucking media ink and human longing. Flapper, eternally ambitious and selfish, Peggy Joyce had no 'skills' as the kids would say, other than in the sexual arena and in her absolute indifference, it seemed, to vows and sufferings of her admirers.

By far the most interesting section of PJH's life was her successful swim upstream from the poor south to her celebrated spawning grounds, old Georgetown to the shores of DC Manhatten. That she was the archetype of the media gliterrati and though in all ways dull- manipulated the media as part of her universal manipulation as life- was again insufficient to the task of vitalizing her. The author was given the contents of her subject's newsclippings and coasters with a few notes, kept wisely for someone who could put together a study. Though Constance Rosenbaum did a worthy job- she perhaps lacked a similar penchant for extravaganza of myth and stardom. We wanted to experience Lorelei- and that, we learn, is a part of the movies- Peggy's stardom evaded the silver screen- and sadly- this bio.


Holes in the Pants Pocket of "Golddigger"   January 1, 2002
 4 out of 7 found this review helpful

I honestly could not finish this book. I tried. Even though it is simple reading, I couldn't stay interested. I like factual books, and I got tired of Rosenblum continually saying "according to Peggy's memoirs", and writing that an event or supposed act may or may not have happened. That's not a good biography to me. I want facts. I just couldn't get half way through.


A wonderful and delightful biography of a wickedly fun girl   December 28, 2001
 1 out of 2 found this review helpful

I was utterly shocked to read the mediocre reviews of this book. From the minute I picked it up, I was unable to put it down until I had read every single page. Although Peggy was not the most profound character in history, her story is exciting and captivating, as well as entertaining, showing how a "nothing" girl can rise to be a somebody. The writer portrays Peggy's story beautifully, with incredibly meticulous research, even though there was obviously little to start with. This is a delicious book, which readers will simply devour.