Well Behaved Women
In 1919, innocent Maybelle Crabtree arrives in Los Angeles from Kentucky. She’s giving out church leaflets when she spots a beautiful woman, Joan, and everything changes. Joan invites her to meet a friend of hers, the Hollywood film star Alla Nazimova, and Maybelle discovers the allure and decadence of movieland.
The story is based on the real life of Nazimova, a Russian who made her way to America and found fame and fortune on stage and screen. In private, she was married but gay. She founded the Garden of Allah hotel, where women could behave badly, partying away from prying eyes, and was said to have created the phrase ‘sewing circle’, a code for lesbian and bisexual women.
All this is covered in the novel, which is written in alternate chapters, following the two women’s lives. Maybelle starts off as saccharine sweet, and I felt she was a rather obvious foil to the feisty Nazimova. But as the story went on, I warmed to Maybelle as she discovers her own sexuality and, in a land where everyone is playing a part, the secrets she hides are revealed. After all, why did she really come to LA?
The difficulty of gay stars trying to keep their sexuality a secret at that time is poignantly covered. Nazimova had to face up to the complexity of a lavender marriage while aiming to keep fans happy. Other stars pop up – including Greta Garbo. It’s a great insight into a forgotten star who did it her way at a less accepting time.
