This is the story of Marlene Dietrich written by her daughter. From earliest childhood, Maria Riva was almost constantly her mother's companion, helper, confidante. This book describes her travels and Dietrich's passionate meetings or exchanges of letters with John Gilbert, Brian Aherne, Erich Maria Remarque, Mercedes De Acosta, Jean Gabin, Edith Piaf, Gary Cooper and John Wayne; from Dietrich's total command of detail - no matter how great and powerful her director - of her own film performances, to fascinating first-time, close-up glimpses of international film, stage and literary circles from the 1920s to the 1960s.