Giant Love: Edna Ferber, Her Best-Selling Novel of Texas, and the Making of a Classic American Film by Julie Gilbert; New York: Pantheon Books Division of Penguin Random House LLC; (c) 2024; ISBN 9781524-748432; 386 pages including acknowledgment, notes and index; hardback edition $35.
SAN DIEGO — This biography of novelist Edna Ferber was written by her grandniece Julie Gilbert, who had access to Ferber’s journals, relatives, friends, and co-workers in addition to archival sources. The result is a splendid recounting of the high points in Ferber’s life, with particular emphasis on the research, production, and success of Giant, both in its novel and movie forms.
In the mid-1950s, when the novel made its appearance, Giant was resented by Texans who fumed that the cattle barons versus oil multimillionaires theme, coupled with an exposé of anti-Mexican prejudice, were mischaracterizations of their state. However, by the time the movie came out, many Texans had been seduced by the story’s star power. The big three were Elizabeth Taylor as the Virginia-bred wife of cattle baron Rock Hudson, and James Dean as the upstart ranch hand-to-riches oil magnate who coveted Taylor’s character.
Even if you haven’t seen the film, for which George Stevens won an Oscar as best director, nor read the novel, this biography of the outspoken Jewish writer Edith Ferber is still worth your while. Gilbert vividly describes how a great novelist researches a book before setting pen to paper (or nowadays pecking on a laptop) and how an author’s vision can be changed by movie makers.
In the novel, the dominant character, as in her previous novels, is a woman, Leslie (played by Taylor), whereas in the movie Leslie’s role is subservient to the rivalry between rancher Bick Benedict (Rock Hudson) and ranch hand turned oil billionaire Jett Rink (James Dean.)
Given that it was the last movie that bad boy James Dean made prior to his death in a traffic accident — in fact, at the time of the accident Dean still had to dub some of his lines — Gilbert delves into the impact of Dean’s demise on Ferber as well as on his co-stars.
Gilbert had many of her great-aunt Ferber’s letters and journal entries to work with. These primary sources help readers feel they get to know the real Ferber, and not just facts about her. Gilbert’s diligent research makes this biography compelling.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor and publisher of San Diego Jewish World