Join the Celebration of Marilyn Monroe’s 100th Birthday with The Marilyn Monroe Century — Check Out the Cover!
‘The Marilyn Monroe Century’ by Bruno Bernard.
Credit :
Abrams Books
Key Highlights
- The Marilyn Monroe Century offers a fresh perspective on the legendary actress through Bruno Bernard’s photographs.
- Bernard is renowned for Marilyn in White, a notable image of Monroe in a white dress over a subway grate.
- The book, curated by Bernard’s grandson Joshua John Miller and co-author Mark A. Fortin, launches just ahead of Monroe’s 100th birthday celebrations.
An upcoming book titled The Marilyn Monroe Century aims to celebrate the life of the iconic actress through the lens of one of her most famous photographers, Bruno Bernard.
In honor of what would have been Marilyn Monroe’s centennial, Abrams Books is set to publish The Marilyn Monroe Century: From Norma Jeane to Icon — A Story in Photographs, debuting in late May 2026. This commemorative collection will showcase images by Bernard, including never-before-seen photographs from his archive.
Co-authors Mark A. Fortin and Joshua John Miller, who is also Bernard’s grandson, have compiled a visual biography that includes not only Bernard’s photographs but also his personal diary entries and insights from contemporary Hollywood figures.
Description of the book labels it as a “landmark tribute to one of the most enduring icons of the 20th century,” as it highlights some of Monroe’s most memorable moments and sheds light on the untold stories of her rise to fame.
According to the book’s synopsis, “Bernard was the only photographer who had a profound relationship with the star as Norma Jeane and Marilyn Monroe.” The work illustrates the transformative journey from Norma Jeane to Marilyn Monroe, showcasing aspects of her life that remain largely unseen.
The cover features the famed Marilyn in White image as a lenticular design, creating a dynamic representation of Monroe’s dress in motion.
Miller and Fortin shared insights, stating that Bernard “met [Monroe] before the myth existed,” firmly establishing him as one of the few individuals who understood her in both her personal and public personas. Their exploration of Bernard’s photographic legacy presents a fuller picture of Monroe’s life and character.
Marilyn Monroe and Bruno Bernard.
Courtesy of Bernard of Hollywood Foundation Archive
Miller remarked that The Marilyn Monroe Century holds deep personal significance for him, just as his grandfather’s work did for the photographer himself. He stated, “He understood her ambition, vulnerability, and intelligence in a way few people did. The photographs and conversations he preserved tell a fuller, more human story of who she really was, and on the centenary of her birth, it felt important to finally share that truth.”
Set to debut on May 19, The Marilyn Monroe Century will be available for preorder at major book retailers.
