Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog, and of His Friend Marilyn Monroe - Softcover

Andrew O'Hagan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0571216005 ISBN 13: 9780571216000

Publisher: Faber & Faber, 2011

Synopsis

In November 1960, Frank Sinatra gave Marilyn Monroe a dog. His name was Maf. He had an instinct for the twentieth century. For politics. For psychoanalysis. For literature. For interior decoration. This is his story. Maf the dog was with Marilyn for the last two years of her life. Not only a picaresque hero himself, he was also a scholar of the adventuring rogue in literature and art, witnessing the rise of America's new liberalism, civil rights, the space race, the New York critics, and was Marilyn Monroe's constant companion. The story of Maf the dog is a hilarious and highly original peek into the life of a complex canine hero - he was very much a real historical figure, with his license and photographs sold at auction along with Marilyn's other person affects. Through the eyes of Maf we're provided with an insight into the life of Monroe herself, and a fascinating take on one of the most extraordinary periods of the twentieth century.

About this title

Book Description:

HMH hardcover, 2010
Previous ISBN 978-0-15-101372-2

From the Back Cover:

Everyone loves Maf

“This is one of those rare books, written with such sureness of pace and lightness of touch that you find you have read a hundred pages without looking up. It is filled with sly jokes, funny wisdom, and deep feeling for character and scene. But more than anything, it is a book utterly alert to the reader’s pleasure; and that pleasure, so sheer and total, is what makes this book so special.”—Colm Tóibín

“Andrew O’Hagan’s new novel, The Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog, is a miracle and will become a classic. I loved, loved it. If only Marilyn Monroe were alive to read it.”—Edna O’Brien

“It’s brilliant, a joy to read. Moving, and very funny—and sad. Maf is wonderful. And so is Marilyn.”—Roddy Doyle

“Why is it the most moving book I’ve read in many years? Why is it dazzling and true? The re-creations of the Actors Studio and the Partisan Review party are uncanny. The whole book is uncanny . . . Maf is magnificent.”—John Guare

“Andrew O’Hagan’s novel perfectly captures the legendary actress. There are numerous scenes between famous people, some of whom I have known, and O’Hagan makes the dialogue sound absolutely authentic . . . I can’t imagine there was ever a dog as erudite and well spoken as dear old Mafia Honey . . . Enthralling.”—Peter Bogdanovich, Daily Telegraph

“What a dog, and what a life . . . Maf is a shrewd observer of the modern age and of the American century, a veritable Tocqueville for our times.”—John Banville, Guardian

About this edition

• Publisher: Faber & Faber
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0571216005
• ISBN 13: 9780571216000
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288