A MULTI-AWARD WINNING NOVEL AND KIRKUS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
A MULTI-AWARD-WINNING NOVEL AND KIRKUS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
LADY BE GOOD
Former journalist Pamela Hamilton tells the extraordinary story behind Frida Kahlo’s portrait of Dorothy Hale, legendary 1930s socialite and actress
“Readers who love glamorous historical fiction will be mesmerized by the life of Dorothy Hale… a woman determined to make a name for herself in a world ruled by men and governed by money, power, and connections.” —Publishers Weekly Booklife, Editor’s Pick
“Surprisingly gripping…” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Available Now
You’ll never see the Frida Kahlo painting in the same way again.
“An intoxicating mix of glitz, glamour, love, and betrayal, complete with a heartbreaking
ending that lingers long after the final page.” — IndieReader
ABOUT THE BOOK
“Hamilton instantly captivates readers.” – BookLife by Publishers Weekly, Editor’s Pick
A moving portrait of Dorothy Hale, the legendary 1930s socialite immortalized in one of Frida Kahlo’s most famous and controversial paintings. In her multi-award-winning novel, former journalist Pamela Hamilton delivers glamour, romance, tragedy, a close and stormy friendship with famed playwright and Vogue and Vanity Fair editor Clare Boothe Luce, and the enchanting story of two women navigating a world of incredible wealth and power in New York, Hollywood, and grand estates of the Gold Coast — a perfect book club read.
Lady Be Good transports us to the glittering era of 1920s New York as the exquisite American socialite Dorothy Hale comes of age. From debutante runaway to Ziegfeld showgirl to millionaire’s wife and Hollywood actress, Hale transforms herself into one of the most adored figures in high society. Yet behind the public façade the darling of the press contends with heart-rending loss, gossip and betrayal, and a tempestuous friendship with Clare Boothe Luce.
Surrounded by her fabulous circle of friends—Millicent Hearst, Jane Mason, Elsa Maxwell, Cole Porter, James Roosevelt, and other iconic figures—Dorothy finds her way to the other side of heartbreak and prepares for a White House wedding. Then, at age thirty-three, at the height of happiness and peak of her fame, she falls to her death. Her life story is revised and written into history by the tabloids and the famed and fêted that once stood by her side—leading to this novel’s stunning conclusion.
In her vibrant debut novel, former NBC producer Pamela Hamilton turns her journalism skills to discovering the facts about Dorothy Hale’s story, then spins them with color and life into breathtaking revelations about the irresistible glamour girl whose legend has endured for more than half a century.
“Delicately woven into a masterpiece of fact and fiction.” —Manhattan Book Review
BOOK REVIEWS & AWARDS
Read the reviews of Lady Be Good, available now in hardcover, paperback, and audio editions
BEHIND THE SCENES
A woman fell to her death, making front-page news. Over a half century later, a reporter finds more to the story
“Surprisingly gripping… A smart and touchingly sympathetic fictional portrayal of an enigmatic woman.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review