I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Siblings discover their late father was famous and had an infamous life before their birth in the book “The Merchant of Venus: The Life of Walter Thornton” by Nancy Thornton Navarro and Adriana Thornton-Cornejo with Philip Mershon.
The Synopsis
Imagine losing a parent and discovering he had a secret life you’d never known about. You and your siblings embark on a quest to uncover what it all meant, becoming enmeshed in a series of images and anecdotes found in newspapers, magazines, books, and documents. Ultimately, you realize your parent was not just famous, but VERY famous! Walter Thornton was famous during a time when it was easy to be forgotten (1920s to the 1950s), making the discoveries about his life all the more engaging due to the involved process of uncovering them.
Through alternating perspectives presented by two sisters, the Thornton saga unfolds in a whirlwind of surprising revelations, thrilling with unexpected drama, adventure, and glamour. Just imagine beautiful models, pin-up girls, Hollywood royalty—Thornton was a true trendsetter. This book unveils the captivating story of Thornton’s rise from an orphan to a charismatic male model to a visionary who transformed advertising by founding the first-ever agency for advertising models. But hold onto your hats because there’s more! Get ready for dramatic twists, encounters with models who transformed into Hollywood legends such as Lauren Bacall, Susan Hayward, and Grace Kelly, and a hint of McCarthy-era intrigue—it’s a gripping tale worthy of the silver screen itself!
The Review
What an insightful and heartfelt biography! The authors’ personal connection to Walter Thornton is immediately felt, and the emotional core of bringing his whole story to life, both the history they knew and the history they didn’t, will form a deep connection with readers as they delve into this story. The atmosphere the authors create for readers helps capture the old Hollywood meets classic American dream vibes that were so prevalent in that time period.
One of the things that made this biography stand out was how it explored what it means for people to have an impact on history. The revelation of the author’s father and his exploits as a young man, from small roles in early films to modeling and starting the first major modeling agency, allowed readers to see how even the people we love most can have other sides to them, and sometimes those sides can impact the world in a whole new way.
The Verdict
Heartfelt, engaging, and memorable, authors Nancy Thornton Navarro, Adriana Thornton-Cornejo, and Philip Mershon’s “The Merchant of Venus: The Life of Walter Thornton” is a must-read nonfiction biography. The detail and love that went into this biography and the insight that the subject’s life provided into not only this era of history but this industry as well will keep readers engaged and invested in the life of this illustrious man. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Authors
Walter Thornton’s daughters have devoted countless years to researching, writing, and archiving their father’s extensive collection of photos and documents, discovered in the attic of their childhood home. Drawing upon the invaluable insights collected from their father’s documents and aided by the assistance of numerous librarians from esteemed institutions such as the Library of Congress, the New York Public Library, and others across the country, as well as historians, they have fully immersed themselves in the quest to unveil their father’s narrative.
Nancy Thornton Navarro is a former trademark and copyright attorney who has also served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Irving, Texas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Nancy currently lives near Dallas with her husband and is a proud mother of three.
Adriana Thornton-Cornejo (R) is a Programmer, 2D Artist, and CAD Drafter at Focus 360, a company serving the Home Building Industry. Adriana hopes that, with renewed public interest in her father’s life and career, she can one day open a Walter Thornton Museum. She lives near Los Angeles with her husband and their two sons.
Philip Mershon is an entertainment industry historian and storyteller who loves going down a good rabbit hole in search of the truth. He lives in Palm Springs, California.
Find them online at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMerchantofVenus
Webpage: https://themerchantofvenus.com
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Clarence_Thornton
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thorntoncornejo
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themerchantofvenus/
Purchase a copy of The Merchant of Venus: The Life of Walter Thornton on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. You can also add it to your GoodReads reading list.
Blog Tour Calendar
August 5th @ The Muffin
Join us at The Muffin as we celebrate the launch of The Merchant of Venus: The Life of Walter Thornton. We’ll interview the authors and give away a copy of the book.
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
August 6th @ Just Katherine
Visit Katherine’s blog for a guest post about the beginnings of modeling. She also shares an excerpt from the book.
https://justkatherineblog.wordpress.com
August 8th @ Knotty Needle
Visit Judy’s blog for her review of The Merchant of Venus: The Life of Walter Thornton.
https://knottyneedle.blogspot.com
August 10th @ Boots, Shoes, and Fashion
Join Linda’s blog for her interview with the authors about The Merchant of Venus: The Life of Walter Thornton.
https://bootsshoesandfashion.com
August 12th @ Finished Pages
Visit Renee’s blog for her review of The Merchant of Venus: The Life of Walter Thornton.
August 14th @ Create Write Now
Join Mari for a spotlight of The Merchant of Venus: The Life of Walter Thornton.
https://www.createwritenow.com/life-matters-blog
August 15th @ Chapter Break
Visit Julie’s blog for an interview with the authors about their book The Merchant of Venus: The Life of Walter Thornton.
August 17th @ A Wonderful World of Books
Visit Joy’s blog for an excerpt of The Merchant of Venus: The Life of Walter Thornton.
https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com
August 20th @ Sara Trimble’s blog
Join Sara for a guest post by the authors about early silent movie stars and their distinctive makeup.
https://saratrimble.wordpress.com
August 26th @ One Writer’s Journey
Visit Sue’s blog for her review of The Merchant of Venus: The Life of Walter Thornton.
August 28th @ Author Anthony Avina’s blog
Visit Anthony’s blog for a review of The Merchant of Venus: The Life of Walter Thornton.
https://atomic-temporary-124910902.wpcomstaging.com/category/reviews
August 30th @ Choices
Visit Madeline’s blog for a guest post from the authors about the history of the Chrysler Building.
https://www.madelinesharples.com
September 1st @ Sarandipity’s Designs
Join Sara for her review of The Merchant of Venus: The Life of Walter Thornton.
September 1st @ Boys’ Mom Reads
Visit Karen’s blog for her review of The Merchant of Venus: The Life of Walter Thornton.
https://karensiddall.wordpress.com
September 2nd @ One Writer’s Journey
Visit Sue’s blog for an interview with the authors about their book The Merchant of Venus: The Life of Walter Thornton.
September 4th @ Candid Canine
Visit Christine’s blog for her review of The Merchant of Venus: The Life of Walter Thornton.
https://candidcanine.blogspot.com
September 8th @ Jill Sheets’ blog
Visit Jill’s blog for her interview with the authors of The Merchant of Venus: The Life of Walter Thornton.
