If you're alive, male, and in possession of an at least marginally-functional Central Nervous System, the names Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield should mean something to you. I, however, purchased this book in order to read the section on Frances Farmer. ("Decline and Fall of the Love Goddesses" is the largest extant collection of FF's previously unpublished writing.) Not only did I find what I was looking for -- i.e., new insights into FF's personality and life -- but I also discovered nine additional entertaining, insightful, and exceptionally well-researched bios of some of Old Hollywood's most famous actresses. Mr. Agan should be commended for his obsessive and careful research.

Here's what I mean by "delightful." Let's start with Mansfield. Did you know that she, at the tender age of 13, in 1945, wrote Swan Soap Company and "told them she was the mother of triplets, Sammy, Pammy, and Jammy"? Not only did SSC reply with a congratulatory letter, but they sent her a case of the then-rationed commodity."

A lifetime of self-promotion followed.

Mr. Agan also found this wonderful quote from Mickey Hargitay, Mansfield's once-husband (there were subsquents) and loyal human hound dog: "[Mansfield] is deeply religious in many ways but is one of the best twisters in the country. She does not consider it undignified or forbidden."

More delightful details:

Betty Grable, as a young girl, was made by her mother to dance for money: "Mother was determined not to miss a trick. I got my start in a children's show playing the saxophone....Later I did a bit where I played and tapped at the same time. We cut that short but quick; it almost loosened my teeth."

Veronica Lake visited a bullfight in Mexico, while shooting Stronghold, and when "the Mexicans started shouting `Veronica! Veronica!'...naturally, I got up and took bows. I didn't know that they were shouting for the matador to execute a turn called a Veronica."

I could go on and on for pages, and still not come even close to exhausting the wealth of amazing detail on every page in this amazing collection. Reading this book is like having coffee with, say, Susan Hayward, and listening to story upon fascinating story.

One last thing: Mr. Agan dedicated The Decline and Fall of the Love Goddesses, among other people, to Hedy Lamarr -- "a lovely friend who helped me understand it all." Last I heard, Mr. Agan was hard at work on her biography. I can't wait. ( )