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It Girl: The Life and Legacy of Jane Birkin

It Girl: The Life and Legacy of Jane Birkin

by Marisa Meltzer

Atria Books ·2025 ·224 pages ·Culture
Maybe Someday
Maybe Someday
I Index
48/99
Maybe Someday

48/99

Critics

Maybe Someday

49/99

Readers

n/a

Scholars

13/99

Rating

84/99

Volume

6/99

Rating

92/99

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About This Book

The first comprehensive biography of Jane Birkin—actress, singer, and legendary style icon—and her profound cultural impact, from the "acerbic, culturally astute, and genuine" (The New York Times) author of the instant New York Times bestseller Glossy.Jane Birkin was synonymous with chic. Her effortless style and artistic legacy have been immortalized through her music and film career. And, of course, she was the inspiration behind one of the world's most coveted bags, the Hermès Birkin. But who was the real woman behind the it girl? Now, New York Times bestselling author Marisa Meltzer sheds new light on Birkin's enigmatic life and explores her profound influence on generations in a rigorously reported biography unlike any other. It Girl paints a vivid portrait of Birkin and her profound legacy, from her early years in 1960s London to her rise as a beloved celebrity in France, detailing personal challenges, her relationships with creative powerhouses, and the duality of her public and private selves. Based on interviews and deep archival research, Meltzer reveals the nuances of Birkin's her famously tempestuous romantic relationships, life with her three famous daughters, and the creative energy that drove her. It Girl tells the story of her indelible impact on femininity and style, and how what we think of as French girl style grew from her. Far from being just a muse, Birkin is at last given her well-deserved due.


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Reviews

"An affectionate and appealing account of the young Englishwoman who became a French icon."

Kirkus Read review ↗ Near the Top

"Still, Meltzer takes care to depict Birkin as a loving if permissive mother, and some of the book's most evocative scenes capture Birkin with her daughters ..."

Joumana Khatib· The New York Times Read review ↗ Near the Top

"She resists over-speculation, except perhaps when concluding a chapter ..."

Madison Mainwaring· The New Republic Read review ↗ Near the Top

"Meltzer captures the sense of carelessness — intentional and benign — that marked Birkin's life ..."

Roxanne Roberts· The Washington Post Read review ↗ Near the Top

"Ironically, in attempting to argue for Birkin as a secret visionary, Meltzer neglects what about her life was most interesting: her ability to remain famous for being, well, Jane Birkin ..."

Rafaela Bassili· The Atlantic Read review ↗ Near the Top

"Meltzer is not quite sure how to handle this phase of Birkin's life."

Anahid Nersessian· The New Yorker Read review ↗ Near the Top

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