Authored by Taylor Jenkins Reid, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a deeply engaging novel that combines the glamour of old Hollywood with the raw complexities of human relationships.
This intricate narrative follows the enigmatic Evelyn Hugo, a legendary actress, as she recounts her tumultuous life and career to an unsuspecting young journalist, Monique Grant. What unfolds is a story about identity, ambition, love, and the sacrifices we make for success.
In the world of glitz and glamour, where spotlights blur the lines between truth and fiction, few figures encapsulate the allure and complexities of fame as vividly as Evelyn Hugo. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is more than just a story of an Old Hollywood icon; it is a profound exploration of love, ambition, identity, and the often-overlooked sacrifices that come with unrelenting stardom.
Upon its release in 2017, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo endured critical acclaim and went on to become a New York Times bestseller to receive a Goodreads Choice Award nomination for Best Historical Fiction in 2017.
Since then, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo caught the attention of #BookTokers and Bookstagrammers all across the globe, and even inspired plenty of Evelyn Hugo cosplay online. The film version will feature the same gorgeous gowns and Hollywood intrigue as the novel, due to release on 30th December 2024 by Netflix.
Background
My favourite feminist Simone de Beauvoir once wrote “I am awfully greedy; I want everything from life. I want to be a woman and to be a man, to have many friends and to have loneliness, to work much and write good books, to travel and enjoy myself, to be selfish and to be unselfish… You see, it is difficult to get all which I want. And then when I do not succeed I get mad with anger.”
Success is necessary for survival, more to women than men, and sometimes lies and selfishness are the significant capital in that journey. Who is better utilising that than women? Though some tend to suggest Evelyn Hugo the veiled description of Elizabeth Taylor, Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’s imaginary Evelyne Hugo reminds me of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra who married multiple times just to save herself as a queen.
Born Evelyn Elena Herrera in 1938, the daughter of Cuban immigrants, Evelyn’s rise from Hell’s Kitchen to Hollywood royalty is both meteoric and harrowing.
Fueled by ambition and armed with striking beauty, Evelyn’s journey into fame is marked by reinvention. She dyes her hair blonde, adopts a new name, and leverages her relationships—both platonic and romantic—to solidify her place among the stars.
Evelyn’s fame is paralleled by her notoriety; her seven marriages become a focal point of public fascination. However, Evelyn’s life, as revealed to Monique, is far more complex than tabloid headlines suggest. The novel oscillates between Evelyn’s unapologetic recounting of her life and Monique’s personal evolution, catalyzed by the actress’s candid revelations.
Evelyn Hugo’s rise from Evelyn Elena Herrera, the Cuban girl from Hell’s Kitchen, to Hollywood royalty was nothing short of meteoric. She personifies reinvention, transforming herself with calculated precision. “It was only when I became Evelyn Hugo that the world thought I was beautiful,” she reflects, underscoring the inherent pressures to conform to the industry’s rigid definitions of desirability.
Blonde hair, a new name, and an endless capacity to adapt were her tools to navigate a world that demanded perfection over authenticity.
Evelyn’s stardom came at a cost—her autonomy, relationships, and even her identity. “The world doesn’t give things, you take things,” she asserts, a mantra that defines her relentless ambition. Yet, as her career soared, the Evelyn Hugo behind the facade became increasingly distant from the public’s perception of her.
Evelyn’s world was one where truth often yielded to necessity. The lies she told—to the public, her lovers, and even herself—were both a shield and a weapon. As she puts “If people are going to talk about who I am, they might as well have the truth,”. Yet, the truth Evelyn reveals is not without its own omissions and manipulations.
Her marriages, often public spectacles, masked deeper truths about her identity and choices. “I married them for different reasons, but I stayed true to one thing—survival,” Evelyn admits.
The lies she crafted were not merely deceptions but survival strategies in a world that afforded little grace to women who dared to defy its rules. Her calculated scandals and orchestrated narratives ensured her continued relevance, even as they exacted a personal toll.
Evelyn Hugo’s life was one of breathtaking highs and devastating lows. Her fame brought her unparalleled influence, yet it often isolated her. “Everything I gained, I also lost,” Evelyn muses, encapsulating the paradox of her existence.
Her story forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths about ambition and the sacrifices demanded by greatness. Was Evelyn Hugo a heroine, a villain, or something in between? The answer lies in the complexity of her choices and the humanity of her flaws.
Plot Analysis
The novel opens with Evelyn Hugo at 79 years old, preparing to auction off her iconic gowns for breast cancer research.
She reaches out specifically to Monique Grant, a relatively inexperienced journalist. Evelyn’s calculated choice becomes evident when she states, “I want someone who has nothing to lose and everything to gain”.
This unexpected request sets the stage for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Monique to write Evelyn’s tell-all memoir—a task Evelyn insists will be published posthumously. As Monique delves deeper, she learns, “This isn’t just a story about fame; it’s about the price of living truthfully”, foreshadowing revelations that tie Evelyn’s life to Monique’s own in an unexpected way.
Monique, who is grappling with her own professional and personal struggles, initially views this as a career-making moment.
Her recent divorce from David and feelings of professional stagnation leave her yearning for a breakthrough. However, as Evelyn unveils her life story, Monique discovers startling connections to her own life, including revelations about her late father’s involvement with Evelyn.
Evelyn’s statement, “Monique, the truth is going to hurt, but it will also set you free”, foreshadows the climactic moment when Monique learns how Evelyn’s decisions have directly impacted her family’s past. This journey challenges her perception of herself and her family, ultimately leading her to a profound personal awakening.
Evelyn’s Seven Husbands
Each of Evelyn’s marriages serves a purpose—whether strategic, emotional, or circumstantial—and offers insight into her character and the societal pressures she faced.
- 1. Ernie Diaz: Evelyn’s first husband is a ticket out of Hell’s Kitchen. She marries him at 15, using him as a stepping stone to Hollywood. Evelyn reflects, “I didn’t marry Ernie because I loved him. I married him because he was my way out”. Their relationship lacks love, underscoring Evelyn’s pragmatism from the start. She admits, “Poor Ernie never saw it coming, but I couldn’t let guilt stand in the way of my dreams”.
- 2. Don Adler: A charismatic but abusive studio actor, Don embodies the dark side of 1950s Hollywood. Initially, Evelyn is swept off her feet by his charm and status, admitting, “I thought Don was the key to everything I ever wanted”. However, the darker side of their marriage soon emerges, with Evelyn revealing, “He would apologize with diamonds after breaking my spirit”. Evelyn leaves him in a move that showcases her courage and burgeoning self-respect, stating, “The moment I chose myself over him, I finally began to feel free”.
- 3. Mick Riva: A Vegas singer, Mick is part of Evelyn’s calculated scandal to mask an abortion. Their brief, drunken marriage highlights Evelyn’s control over her public image. Evelyn recalls, “Marrying Mick wasn’t about love or even lust. It was about strategy”. She orchestrates the marriage to shift the media’s attention, explaining, “If the world was going to judge me, I’d make sure they were judging what I wanted them to see”. This union is short-lived, with Evelyn remarking, “I divorced Mick the moment I got what I needed”.
- 4. Rex North: This marriage is a partnership of convenience. Together, they craft a perfect Hollywood power couple, designed to satisfy the studios and the press. Evelyn describes it as, “A union of mutual benefit, where love was never in the contract”. Their carefully crafted façade starts to crumble when Rex begins an affair, prompting Evelyn to reveal, “It was easier to end things amicably than to pretend we were something we weren’t”. Ultimately, diverging interests and the lack of genuine connection end their union.
- 5. Harry Cameron: Evelyn’s greatest friendship blossoms here. Harry, a closeted gay man, and Evelyn create a family together, raising their daughter, Connor. Evelyn fondly describes Harry as “The one man I loved completely and without reservation”. This relationship exemplifies Evelyn’s capacity for deep, unconditional love. Their bond is further solidified through shared secrets and mutual support, as Harry reassures her, “We’ll build the family we need, even if the world doesn’t understand it”. Together, they navigate societal judgment while fostering a nurturing environment for Connor.
- 6. Max Girard: Max, a director infatuated with Evelyn, represents her misstep into a relationship where she sacrifices her happiness for his validation. Initially, Evelyn believes their union will bring artistic fulfillment, remarking, “Max saw me not just as a star, but as his muse”. However, his obsessive need to control her stifles her spirit, leading Evelyn to confess, “With Max, I was his vision of Evelyn Hugo, not my own”. Their marriage dissolves when Evelyn realizes she cannot forsake her authentic self, stating, “I needed to stop living for others and start living for myself”.
- 7. Robert Jamison: The brother of her true love, Celia St. James, Robert provides Evelyn with companionship in her later years. Evelyn acknowledges, “Robert was my safe harbor in the storm of losing Celia”. Their marriage is a testament to Evelyn’s resilience and adaptability, as she reflects, “We gave each other what we could, not out of passion but out of kindness”. Despite the unconventional nature of their relationship, Evelyn reveals, “Robert and I understood each other in a way that didn’t need words”.
Themes and Analysis
The Price of Ambition
Evelyn’s journey illustrates the sacrifices required for success in a patriarchal and image-driven industry. From changing her identity—“It was only when I became Evelyn Hugo that the world thought I was beautiful”—to strategically marrying for professional gains, Evelyn’s ambition often comes at the expense of personal happiness.
For instance, her marriage to Mick Riva was a calculated attempt to save her public image, even as she acknowledged, “I knew exactly what I was doing, and I didn’t care who I hurt in the process”. Her calculated moves expose the stark realities of navigating fame as a woman in mid-20th century Hollywood, where survival often meant suppressing one’s authentic self.
Identity and S*exuality
At its core, the novel explores Evelyn’s bise*xuality and her enduring love for Celia St. James, another actress. Evelyn candidly admits, “I’ve spent my life loving her and fighting to love her the way she deserved”.
Their relationship, fraught with societal and personal challenges—“Hollywood wasn’t ready for us, and maybe we weren’t ready for ourselves”—reveals Evelyn’s struggle to balance authenticity with ambition. Through Evelyn, Reid confronts the erasure and stigmatization of bise*xuality in both history and contemporary discourse, highlighting how Evelyn’s love for Celia often conflicted with her public image: “To the world, I was Evelyn Hugo, but to her, I was just Evelyn”.
Love and Its Many Forms
The novel distinguishes between various types of love—romantic, platonic, familial, and self-love. Evelyn’s bond with Harry Cameron exemplifies unconditional friendship, encapsulated in his declaration: “Evelyn, you’re my family. Always have been, always will be”.
Meanwhile, her relationship with Celia captures the intensity and fragility of romantic love, as evidenced by Evelyn’s confession: “Loving her was the most profound and transformative experience of my life”. Her devotion to her daughter, Connor, reveals a softer, maternal side often overshadowed by her ambition, particularly in moments such as, “I wanted to shield her from the world, but I also wanted her to know the truth about me”.
The Role of Storytelling
Reid’s narrative underscores the power of storytelling in shaping legacy and truth.
Evelyn’s decision to recount her life through Monique’s writing reflects her desire to reclaim her narrative, stripping away decades of speculation and sensationalism.
Evelyn articulates this drive poignantly: “If people are going to talk about who I am, they might as well have the truth”. By trusting Monique, Evelyn ensures her story is told on her terms, adding, “This way, I can finally control the one thing I’ve never been able to before—my legacy”.
Quotable Lines/quotations
1. When you’re given an opportunity to change your life, be ready to do whatever it takes to make it happen. The world doesn’t give things, you take things.” — This encapsulates Evelyn’s philosophy on ambition and survival.
2. “I’ve spent my life loving her and fighting to love her the way she deserved.”
3. “You don’t regret the things you do. You regret the things you don’t do.” is a poignant reflection on the risks and rewards of living authentically.
4. “The love of my life was Celia St. James. But Hollywood wasn’t ready for us, and maybe we weren’t ready for ourselves.” — Evelyn’s confession of her deepest truth highlights the intersection of love and societal constraints.
5. “To the world, I was Evelyn Hugo, but to her, I was just Evelyn.”
6. “If people are going to talk about who I am, they might as well have the truth.”
7. “The moment I chose myself over him, I finally began to feel free.”
8. “We’ll build the family we need, even if the world doesn’t understand it.”
Personal Reflection
Reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo felt like uncovering a beautifully tragic memoir. Evelyn’s unapologetic honesty is both inspiring and unsettling.
Her life challenges readers to question societal norms around gender, sexuality, and morality. Personally, Evelyn’s resilience resonated deeply, particularly her ability to adapt and persevere despite heartbreak and loss.
Monique’s growth as a journalist and individual mirrors the transformative power of Evelyn’s story. Through Evelyn, she learns to assert herself and confront her own fears, a journey that feels intimate and relatable.
Conclusion
Taylor Jenkins Reid masterfully weaves a tale that is as glamorous as it is gritty. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is more than a Hollywood exposé; it is a poignant exploration of identity, love, and the human condition.
Evelyn Hugo’s life is a testament to the complexities of ambition and authenticity, leaving readers with a profound appreciation for the untold stories behind every public persona.
