Giant Love, Julie Gilbert

It’s an exploration of how Giant became one of America’s most iconic stories, both on the page and on the screen. Gilbert intertwines three narratives: the fiercely independent life of her great-aunt Edna Ferber, the long research and writing process behind the bestselling novel about Texas oil, land, and social change, and the decades-spanning journey of that novel into George Stevens’s terrific 1956 Hollywood movie epic. Gilbert’s research and personal connection bring warmth to Ferber’s ambitions and anxieties, from her battles with Texas elites outraged by her portrayal of racial and class tensions to her insistence on authenticity that would shape both book and movie. Giant was a novel that provoked both admiration and hostility.

What truly elevates Giant Love is its account of the film’s making, which is what I most wanted to read about. Gilbert gives readers behind-the-scenes storytelling, on-location shoots in Marfa, the chemistry and conflicts among Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean, and Ferber’s surprising bond with the much-younger Dean that added emotional resonance to the production. Gilbert’s blend of biography, literary history, and film lore makes Giant Love a good read for anyone fascinated by how great stories are shaped and retold across mediums.