Gah! I LOOOVE Lee Miller. I haven't (yet) had the chance to see the film but I cannot wait. Thank you for writing this! And on the 100th anniversary of Surrealism no less! I actually own Age of Light but have yet to read it. I've been worried it won't live up to my love of Lee, but it sounds like I'm wrong. Thank you as always for the lovely post!
Thank you for pointing us to this photographer and film. It’s part of undoing / resetting the erasure for us to raise up each other’s work and its importance.
When I first learned Lee Miller had taken those photographs of the Nazi suicides after Hitler's death, it gutted me. Those images have haunted me for decades. So has she. Did you read Jeanne Mackin's BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN about her story? I'm looking forward to the new LEE movie which I hadn't otherwise known about. Love knowing what you're diving into with fresh eyes.
What kismet! I had purchased tickets for a friend and I to see the movie ‘Lee’ only one day earlier, when your newsletter about her and the movie came out. (As a general rule, I’ll see almost anything which stars Kate Winslet!) I didn’t know anything about Lee Miller, and was captivated by her bold, fascinating life, although I felt the movie script lacked depth and was not quite as good as I’d hoped. Nonetheless, it was a visually impressive film that introduced me to a woman determined to live and work on her own terms. As generations pass, it becomes harder and harder to conceive of a time when gender restricted where you could go and what you
could (or should) do for a living. Movies like Lee are important reminders that even though things are hardly 100 percent rosy for women, our professional and personal freedoms are vastly improved.
Yes, it is hard to believe she couldn’t even go into a briefing! How ridiculous. The film was very vivid and emotional, I thought, in its portrayal of the war, but lacked some depth, as you say.
I read Lee Miller and Surrealism in Britain not so long ago https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/lee-miller-and-surrealism-in-britain-eleanor-clayton/332343?ean=9781848222724. It accompanied an exhibition at the Hepworth back in 2018 and touches on Leonora Carrington and Max Ernst, whose relationship was similar to that Miller had with Ray. They were all part of the same Surrealist circle - lots of men getting what they want, fewer women getting what they want, too. Carrington interests me in the same way Miller does, and I keep meaning to read the Joanna Moorhead book Elaine mentions. I heard her speak about it at a Manchester Literature Festival event when it came out. I did watch a documentary about Carrington on the BBC earlier this year - Leonora Carrington: The Lost Surrealist. It's not on iPlayer currently but someone seems to have added it to YouTube. It's worth watching.
I haven't seen the Lee film yet, but I coincidentally read an old copy of Harper's Bazaar at the hairdresser yesterday, which had an interview with Kate Winslet about the film and her approach to life in the public eye. She's another audacious woman.
Thank you for mentioning the Carrington documentary as I found it on YouTube and will watch it later. As I go to Mexico every winter, I am hoping to visit the Carrington Museum in San Luis Potosí in the new year. I see too that her son has just written a memoir about her, so will dip into that.
What a fascinating novel to choose -- a fictionalized biography is just perfect for you, not to mention its audacious female subject, Lee Miller. But why on earth would she want to hide the results of her formidable talent?
I first learned of Lee Miller when I read Joanna Moorhead's biography of Leonora Harrington, the audacious British-Mexican surrealist. There is a photo included in the book of four women, posing as muses to their male counterparts. They have their eyes closed, suggesting they are unconscious, but they were obviously camping it up.
"...women are widely overshadowed by the iconized narratives of their male colleagues and feature less prominently in the recounting of photojournalism’s history."
Several years ago, I wrote an article for the now defunct magazine, AMERICA IN WWII, about the female correspondents of WW2 - and Lee Miller's story captivated me. I'll forever regret not going to an exhibit on Lee at the Imperial War Museum in London back in 2015. I'm really excited to see the new Kate Winslet film.
I'm glad classes are going well and I hope you figure out a rhythm that works for you. My daughter was so frazzled during her first two weeks of school (she went back to school at 24) but now she's doing great.
Thank you for your post. I saw the film a few days ago. I hadn't heard of Lee Miller before and was impressed with how brave she was and determined for the world to know of the horrors of the war. She took some astonishing photos. I would like to go to the museum and its a shame the movie exhibition ends this month. I'll definitely read the book now.
Oh wow, that sounds a lot like Whitney Scharer's book. I'll have to read this one too. It would be interesting to see how two writers take on the same subject. Thanks for sharing it!
I look forward to reading the novel as well as checking out the film. I love this line of regaining her focus. Something we all need. I feel the tension that she’s living, which is also quite exciting.
also, a must see, is LILLY - about fair pay activist, Lilly Ledbetter, premiering at the Hamptons Film Festival as we speak, (top 10) and other film festivals nationwide. Starring Patricia Clarkson as Lilly and her long journey to justice after learning that for 20 years she's been earning only half of what men with the same job are paid.
I love that Lee Miller is able to come to life again through her work and the film with Kate Winslet. It makes me wonder how many more women who have passed who did incredible work at a time when women weren't taken seriously. We need to know more about them!
Gah! I LOOOVE Lee Miller. I haven't (yet) had the chance to see the film but I cannot wait. Thank you for writing this! And on the 100th anniversary of Surrealism no less! I actually own Age of Light but have yet to read it. I've been worried it won't live up to my love of Lee, but it sounds like I'm wrong. Thank you as always for the lovely post!
Thank you for pointing us to this photographer and film. It’s part of undoing / resetting the erasure for us to raise up each other’s work and its importance.
When I first learned Lee Miller had taken those photographs of the Nazi suicides after Hitler's death, it gutted me. Those images have haunted me for decades. So has she. Did you read Jeanne Mackin's BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN about her story? I'm looking forward to the new LEE movie which I hadn't otherwise known about. Love knowing what you're diving into with fresh eyes.
Thanks for mentioning Mackin's book. Looks amazing. I will definitely try to get a hold of that.
What kismet! I had purchased tickets for a friend and I to see the movie ‘Lee’ only one day earlier, when your newsletter about her and the movie came out. (As a general rule, I’ll see almost anything which stars Kate Winslet!) I didn’t know anything about Lee Miller, and was captivated by her bold, fascinating life, although I felt the movie script lacked depth and was not quite as good as I’d hoped. Nonetheless, it was a visually impressive film that introduced me to a woman determined to live and work on her own terms. As generations pass, it becomes harder and harder to conceive of a time when gender restricted where you could go and what you
could (or should) do for a living. Movies like Lee are important reminders that even though things are hardly 100 percent rosy for women, our professional and personal freedoms are vastly improved.
Yes, it is hard to believe she couldn’t even go into a briefing! How ridiculous. The film was very vivid and emotional, I thought, in its portrayal of the war, but lacked some depth, as you say.
I read Lee Miller and Surrealism in Britain not so long ago https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/lee-miller-and-surrealism-in-britain-eleanor-clayton/332343?ean=9781848222724. It accompanied an exhibition at the Hepworth back in 2018 and touches on Leonora Carrington and Max Ernst, whose relationship was similar to that Miller had with Ray. They were all part of the same Surrealist circle - lots of men getting what they want, fewer women getting what they want, too. Carrington interests me in the same way Miller does, and I keep meaning to read the Joanna Moorhead book Elaine mentions. I heard her speak about it at a Manchester Literature Festival event when it came out. I did watch a documentary about Carrington on the BBC earlier this year - Leonora Carrington: The Lost Surrealist. It's not on iPlayer currently but someone seems to have added it to YouTube. It's worth watching.
I haven't seen the Lee film yet, but I coincidentally read an old copy of Harper's Bazaar at the hairdresser yesterday, which had an interview with Kate Winslet about the film and her approach to life in the public eye. She's another audacious woman.
Thank you for mentioning the Carrington documentary as I found it on YouTube and will watch it later. As I go to Mexico every winter, I am hoping to visit the Carrington Museum in San Luis Potosí in the new year. I see too that her son has just written a memoir about her, so will dip into that.
I too have been interested in Leonara Carrington. What a story and whan an incredible artist!
For those interested, here is link to a really fascinating talk by the art historian Susan Aberth on Carrington and the Tarot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6iijJAbrAc&t=20s
An amazing woman!!! Thanks for bringing back these audacious women to the conversation!
What a fascinating novel to choose -- a fictionalized biography is just perfect for you, not to mention its audacious female subject, Lee Miller. But why on earth would she want to hide the results of her formidable talent?
I first learned of Lee Miller when I read Joanna Moorhead's biography of Leonora Harrington, the audacious British-Mexican surrealist. There is a photo included in the book of four women, posing as muses to their male counterparts. They have their eyes closed, suggesting they are unconscious, but they were obviously camping it up.
Looking forward to seeing the film.
I'd like to read more about Leonora Carrington. I'll have to look for Moorhead's biography.
fyi: https://time.com/4694204/women-war-photographers/
"...women are widely overshadowed by the iconized narratives of their male colleagues and feature less prominently in the recounting of photojournalism’s history."
Several years ago, I wrote an article for the now defunct magazine, AMERICA IN WWII, about the female correspondents of WW2 - and Lee Miller's story captivated me. I'll forever regret not going to an exhibit on Lee at the Imperial War Museum in London back in 2015. I'm really excited to see the new Kate Winslet film.
I'm glad classes are going well and I hope you figure out a rhythm that works for you. My daughter was so frazzled during her first two weeks of school (she went back to school at 24) but now she's doing great.
Thanks, Melissa. I'll get there. You're the second one to mention that exhibit. I wish I had seen it!
Thank you for your post. I saw the film a few days ago. I hadn't heard of Lee Miller before and was impressed with how brave she was and determined for the world to know of the horrors of the war. She took some astonishing photos. I would like to go to the museum and its a shame the movie exhibition ends this month. I'll definitely read the book now.
My introduction to Lee Miller was when one of my closest BFFs wrote this book about her! https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Woman-in-the-Photograph/Dana-Gynther/9781476731964
Oh wow, that sounds a lot like Whitney Scharer's book. I'll have to read this one too. It would be interesting to see how two writers take on the same subject. Thanks for sharing it!
Thank you for the book suggestion—I’ve requested it from the library.
And hooray for school! I’m so excited that you’re in class now.
Thanks, Monica!
I look forward to reading the novel as well as checking out the film. I love this line of regaining her focus. Something we all need. I feel the tension that she’s living, which is also quite exciting.
Good luck with your studies. Good for you.
Thank you, Prajna!
also, a must see, is LILLY - about fair pay activist, Lilly Ledbetter, premiering at the Hamptons Film Festival as we speak, (top 10) and other film festivals nationwide. Starring Patricia Clarkson as Lilly and her long journey to justice after learning that for 20 years she's been earning only half of what men with the same job are paid.
Wow, sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing.
I love that Lee Miller is able to come to life again through her work and the film with Kate Winslet. It makes me wonder how many more women who have passed who did incredible work at a time when women weren't taken seriously. We need to know more about them!
Yes! There are some very brave female war correspondents getting their due now. There is a new book about Sigrid Shultz, for instance. https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Dragon_from_Chicago/zy_dEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
I haven't read The Age of Light by Whitney Scharer, but it looks like a must read. Thanks for bringing it to our attention!