INVENTING THE IT GIRL How Elinor Glyn Created the Modern Romance and Conquered Early Hollywood

Pamela Almand's narration makes listening to this literary biography of Elinor Glyn (18641943) informative and intriguing. Soon after Glyn's socially advantageous marriage to her charming, philandering husband, she begins to realize that something is missing in her well-ordered life. Almand emphasizes Glyn's frustration and determination as she defies repressed Victorian attitudes toward sex, eventually writing romantic erotica that scandalizes and titillates her avid, if hypocritical, readers. Almand remains objective as she details Glyn's courageous stand against prevailing ideas about women's sexuality. Credited with inventing the concept of the Hollywood "It Girl," Glyn was known for outrageous personal escapades, many reflected in her novels, in which women actually enjoy sexual encounters. This entertaining biography is well served by Almand's even pacing and matter-of-fact tone. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2022]