Much has been written about Judy Garland’s time on and off-screen, but there have been few novels that delve into her complicated life.

Dottie Fray’s The Constricting Corset offers an intimate portrait of one of the world’s greatest entertainers in the context of some of the monumental films in which she appeared, as well as the personal and professional relationships she realized through her life. Fray offers fictionalized encounters based on biographical and historical resources to not only flesh out the character of Garland in this novel but also help readers better understand Garland as a person via events, people, and encounters that shaped her life for better and worse.

Fray’s novel is written with inviting prose and respectfully deals with Gardland’s highs and lows. It allows readers to consider and reflect upon some of Garland’s experiences inside and outside the studio system. Moreover, the book helps readers reconcile the successes and challenges of her legacy today.

The Constricting Corset is available for purchase via Amazon.