From working in a Kansas City laundry Joan Crawford became one of the greatest stars of the silver screen and an oscar-winning actress. And in this book, David Bret draws on unpublished material and personal sources, including Marlene Dietrich and Douglas Fairbanks, to present a unique and uncensored portrait of a fiercely ambitious woman. In this must-read biography, Bret reveals Crawford's preference for sexually ambiguous men, including Clark Gable, her feuds with Bette Davies and rivalry with Norma Shearer, and how the actress and the real person became indistinguishable in her films. And yet, stardom is never what it seems - Crawford was dedicated to everything she did, whether it was her devotion to Christian Science or her reliance on vodka. From a mother who forced Crawford to work as a prostitute, appearing in pornographic films and sleep her way to the top, to what really happened that led Crawford to disinherit two of her four children, Joan Crawford: Hollywood Martyr reveals the fascinating untold story of 'Mommie Dearest', the woman who wore the 'fuck me' shoes.