Giant Love: Edna Ferber, Her Best-selling Novel of Texas, and the Making of a Classic American Film

by Julie Gilbert

A book that explores the great American novelist and playwright Edna Ferber, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Ficton, whose work was made into many Academy Award-winning movies; the writing of her controversial, international best-selling novel about Texas, and the making of George Stevens’ Academy Award winning epic film of the same name, Giant.The stupendous publication of Edna Ferber's Giant in 1952 set off a storm of protest over the novel's portrayal of Texas manners, money and mores with oil-rich Texans threatening to shoot, lynch or ban Ferber from ever entering the state again.In Giant Love, Julie Gilbert writes of the internationally best-selling Ferber, one of the most widely read writers in the first half of the 20th Century – her evolution from mid-west maverick girl-reporter to Pulitzer Prize winning, beloved American novelist, from her want-to-be actress days to becoming Broadway's acclaimed prize-winning playwright whose collaborators – George S. Kauffman and Moss Hart, among them, were, along with Ferber, herself, the most successful playwrights of their time.Here is the making of an American classic novel and the film that followed in its wake. We see how George Stevens, Academy-Award winning director, wooed the prickly, stubborn Ferber, ultimately getting her to agree to everything including writing, for the first time ever, a draft of a screenplay, to her okaying James Dean for the part of the ranch hand, Jett Rink, something she was dead set against.Here is the casting of Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean and their backstory triangle of sex and seduction – each becoming a huge star because of the film; the frustrated Stevens trying to direct the instinctive but undisciplined Dean, and the months long landmark filming in the sleepy town of Marfa, Texas, suddenly invaded by a battalion of a film crew and some of the biggest stars in the rising celebrity culture.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History, Film, Biography Memoir, Audiobook, Media Tie In

400 pages, Hardcover

Published December 3, 2024

Reviews

[Moonkiszt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fan of Edna's since I first read my mother's copy of So Big when I was 12, seeing Giant Love: Edna Ferber, Her Best-selling Novel of Texas, and the Making of a Classic American Film had me scrambling for a copy to read. I was fully justified.

Ms. Gilbert admits her relationship to Ms. Ferber in her first sentence - the latter is the former's auntie, and their relationship was close and reads as if there were lots of mentor-mentee vibes. This pops up throughout the read and delighted me. Gilbert has previously written a bio of Edna and warns her readers that if a bio is wanted they should look back to her prior work, that Giant Love would be about Edna, the book Giant, and the movie it inspired. There are Stars Twinkling in as well, with back and side stories, trivia bits and pieces, lots of research, and photos to place names with faces if your generation is in the dark. Mine is in the know and I was thrilled.

A Fulsome Read, with references to support her work and points interested readers to future answers to questions they may have. An altogether satisfying read. (I'm off to find my copy of A Peculiar Treasure. Ferber mentions always trigger me to find one of those old friends.)

*A sincere thank you to Julie Gilbert, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Pantheon, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giant Love is written by Julie Gilbert, a great-niece of Edna Ferber (the author of the novel Giant). I have enjoyed Ferber's work since I was a teenager. Giant and So Big are my favorites and I've read each several times. I also love the movie. And I love reading about the making of movies so I was excited to receive a copy of this book.

Gilbert is a good writer and obviously a loving and admiring great-niece. Once the book gets to the actual writing of the novel--the research, the run-ins with Texans around the themes of racism and critiques of Texan style, it really takes off and continues to soar through the making of the film. I was fascinated by the accounts Ferber's meticulous research and her interactions with the people she was researching. And the struggle to get the book optioned (fear of lawsuits by people whose stories closely mirrored characters in the book made studios reluctant to take on the project) as well as Ferber's struggles once the movie was in production to preserve the integrity of Leslie, the major (for Ferber) protagonist in the work. I had not realized how dedicated Ferber was to creating strong women--women who had stronger personalities and stronger integrity than the men in her novels.

And of course my favorite--the reason I love books about movies--stories in this work are those around the actors, especially Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean, although there is much about many of the other actors in the film--what a tremendously strong cast it has! The relationship between Ferber and Dean is very touching. Gilbert depicts people that are as alive and fully formed as those in Ferber's books.

I only wish Gilbert had gotten to the writing of the book and then the material about the movie sooner. The first 20% of the book is a biography of Ferber--and, to be fair, the subtitle does begin with "Edna Ferber and..." but I thought that the focus would be on Ferber in relation to the book and the film. Even though the material Gilbert covers is interesting, and certainly leads up to the writing of Giant, I was very impatient to get to what I felt was the point of the book.

But this is just information for people so that they know what to expect. I think I would have been less frustrated if I'd known there was so much biography before we get to the book. And I so loved the rest of the book, it was a small price to pay. In addition, although I felt it slowed the pace, the information given increased my understanding of Ferber's character and approach to writing which in turn increased my enjoyment of the later parts of the book.

Ferber was a fascinating woman and I share Gilbert's regret that she isn't more widely read today. The struggles her characters have are deeply connected to difficult conditions in this country at different times and confront injustices and inequities in this country. There is however a feeling of strength and of the hope for change that I often miss today--in literature and in myself. I still reread Ferber because I love her characters, especially the women, and their fight to survive against sometimes powerful obstacles.

My thanks to NetGalley as well as the publisher, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Pantheon, as well as the author for receiving an arc of this book which will be published in December 2024.

[Anthony McGill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding study of a great author, her intense writing of the classic novel "Giant" and involvement with the meticulous director George Stevens in the making of his Academy Award winning masterpiece.

[Chrissie Whitley]

August 2025, DNF at page 175. Whew, but this was trying. I really wanted to have a good time with this deep dive, but Gilbert — Ferber's great niece — seemed absolutely insistent on relaying Ferber's entire biography before we even get to her writing Giant. I'd much rather have gotten a brief account, delivered well and succinctly, that made me want to head from here to Gilbert's already existing biography of her famous great aunt, Ferber: Edna Ferber and Her Circle.

[Priscilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps a bit too long; some asides that don’t quite contribute to the overall story. But I did learn a lot about Edna Ferber, she seemed like a really cool lady. Maybe one day I’ll get around to reading and watching Giant, though book and movie are quite long.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous job

Best book i have ever read on the odyssey of a great book transmuted into a great American film. Ferber has much to teach us in these days. Read her. See this film.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Full disclosure**: This book/ARC, unfortunately, did NOT have a Table of Contents and because I didn't want to taptaptap my way through a 529 page book, I had to wait and get it from the Library; hence my wait in reading/reviewing it. My review is below

I knew very little about Edna Ferber before this book [I knew she was a writer and had won a Pulitzer and that is simply because a friend and her sister read the Pulitzer and loved it]; imagine my surprise when I found out that she not only wrote the book Giant [which I knew was a movie, but never knew it was originally a book], she also wrote Showboat [!!!], Cimarron [again I knew it was a movie but not a book] amongst other notable plays and books, and I tell you, I was a bit gobsmacked.

I mostly enjoyed this book; it was interesting [especially when we get to the making of the movie Giant, which featured Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean, who died shortly after the movie was finished filming], but there was a LOT of minutiae that just bogged down the overall story and I often was a teeny bit confused, and also felt like I checked out during these sections [and would have to go back and re-listen, which was annoying].

Nonetheless, it was a fairly interesting read about an author I've never read [and will plan on changing that; I mean, I really SHOULD read Giant now right?] and honestly, do not even ever remember hearing about, and even with the less-than-exciting parts, I am really glad I read it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Julie Gilbert, and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor/Pantheon for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Pixie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Realized I was only a quarter of the way through, hadn't really even gotten to the point where she wrote the book, much less talking about the movie, which is the part I was most interested in. Too many other books to get to, have to return this to the library. Written by her niece, there was way too much verbatim from author's notes and letters. Just because you have access to all that doesn't mean it all belongs in the page. Repetitive, became wearisome. Needed sharp editing. I had looked forward to this book because it's a good concept. Even watched the movie while waiting for the book to come out, which I don't regret, if only for the mid century decor and fashions, and seeing those actors.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent story of Edna Ferber writing of the novel of “Giant” and George Stevens’ directing of the movie, partly on location in Marfa, TX. I never realized how successful an author Ferber was and it is a bit sad to see how forgotten she is now. Also never realized what a big stir this novel caused when this best-selling Easterner dared to write about the great state of Texas. As a move buff, the last half was my favorite, especially reading about her crush on James Dean.

[Randy Bowser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a huge James Dean fan, I've liked the movie Giant for many years. As a movie, it feels more dated and a product of its time than Dean's other two films, Rebel, and Eden. But Giant is still an enjoyable old-fashioned Hollywoody type of movie to watch. Liz Taylor's career zoomed up in high gear after this because she showed such depth in her lead role in Giant. Rock Hudson was no longer just another muscle beach flash in the pan - he became a superstar because of his impressive work in the film.

To read about Edna Ferber's career as a writer, her adventures in Texas that led up to her most famous novel, Giant, takes up the first half of this always well-delivered book. The second half focuses on making the movie version of her best-selling novel. Ferber's struggle to keep the screenplay as close to the letter and spirit of her book is a dominant theme. The GIANT undertaking director George Stevens had in corraling the large cast, large story, and large controversy - this portion of the book was constantly entertaining, funny, insightful, and full of details I'd never read anywhere else before. Never wanting to write a spoiler, I'll just say that there are some especially intriguing stories about James Dean.

Author Julie Gilbert is Edna Ferber's great-niece. Previously she wrote a biography of her great-aunt. The first half of this book feels much like volume two of the biography since it's full of long quotes from Ferber. I became a bit impatient during the stretched-out portions dealing with some details that weren't all that interesting. I felt Gilbert needed a more stringent editor, because she repeats herself often throughout, sounding as if she's forgotten about a detail she's already written about. The redundancy looks like a lack of sufficient editing to me.

But - It's still a great homage to the one-time famous author, Ferber, her famous book, and the hugely successful movie version. There's no other record of the Giant story like the one Gilbert has dished up, and we should be grateful. I know I am.

[Erinn H · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Giant Love, Julie Gilbert (the great-niece of Edna Ferber) details Ferber’s life and the creation of her novel Giant and its later adaptation into film. This is a must-read for any fan of the film or book, or of Ferber for that matter, especially as it contains some fun family insights.

The book is structured roughly into two parts, with the first focusing on Ferber’s life and career leading up to the publication of Giant, before delving into her research and writing process for the book, and then detailing the book's publication and reception. The second part of Giant Love focuses on all aspects of the movie deal, casting and making of the movie, and the legacy of the film.

My favorite parts of the book were getting to read about Ferber’s research and writing process, as well as seeing snippets of her notes. I wasn’t aware of a lot of the real life influences for the novel, and I wasn’t alive when it was published so it was interesting to learn about how it was received by the public. I also enjoyed learning about where the novel differed from the movie, and where Ferber and Stevens, the film director, didn’t see eye to eye, especially when it came to Leslie. (I am ashamed to admit, I am a movie fan, and although I have seen it dozens of times, I have yet to read the book!) And, of course, this book has all the fun behind-the-scenes stuff about the movie that you are looking for.

There were a few aspects of Giant Love that didn’t work as well for me. At times, it could be redundant and a little too into the minutiae for my taste. I think this may appeal to people who are already experts on the topic, but it detracted from the fun for me. I also wonder if this book tried to do a bit too much in its scope. Approximately the first 20% of the book is just a biography of Edna Ferber, and although I think some biographical details were useful and relevant, I do wish that the first part was more succinct.

I think Giant fans, book and movie alike, will get a kick out of Giant Love. And like I said, the fact that this was written by a family member makes this one extra fun. I would definitely recommend it.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Pantheon for the complimentary eARC for the purpose of an honest review!*

[Bookreporter.com Biography & Memoir · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not know how familiar many readers are with Edna Ferber. I recognized her name because of the movie Giant, which is based on Ferber’s novel of the same name. It remains a classic due to its incredible cast, including Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, Dennis Hopper and James Dean, who died in a car accident shortly before the film was completed.

GIANT LOVE, written by Ferber’s great-niece, Julie Gilbert, can be best described as a dual biography. The first half is devoted to Ferber, a woman of immense talent who rose from being a journalist to receiving a Pulitzer Prize for her novel, SO BIG, and wrote SHOW BOAT, a book that later became an iconic Broadway musical. Ferber was far ahead of her time. Her works always featured strong female characters, and she was not afraid to confront important cultural issues. Informative and insightful, this biographical material added much to my reading experience.

It is in this portion of GIANT LOVE that we learn how Ferber chose to write a novel set in Texas and the difficulties that came with this decision: “GIANT, in the guise of Texas, haunted me for a decade or more. I shrank from it, I shuddered to contemplate the grim task of wrestling with this vast subject. Finally, I wrote it to be rid of it.” Ferber would do a great deal of research for the book, with much of it exposing her to the racial disparities of the state for both Mexican and Black Americans. When GIANT was published, Texas was still mythical to many. Just as LONESOME DOVE later would reveal a different side of the Texas frontier myth, Ferber’s novel would portray Texas in the post-World War II era, a state of vast oil wealth confronting a changing national political landscape.

GIANT sold well, ranking in the top 10 of books that released in 1952. Texans were not as pleased as others due in large part to the negative portrayal of Texas oil barons. Ferber handled the criticism precisely as an artist should. She accepted the hostility of some Texas newspaper reviews and simply observed that many critiques spoke of her admiration and fascination for the state. Regardless of how Texans felt, the popularity of the novel meant that it soon would receive the film treatment.

The sections of GIANT LOVE that cover the book-to-movie transformation are rich in detail. Gilbert had access to a great deal of Ferber’s written communications between the studio and with director George Stevens. For part of the filming, Ferber was in Alaska where she was researching what she hoped would be her next novel, while the movie was shooting on location in Marfa, Texas. Marfa’s community still maintains a connection with Giant, including the Hotel Paisano, where guests can find accommodations in suites bearing the names of James Dean, Rock Hudson and Dennis Hopper. Even though she never stayed at the hotel, Elizabeth Taylor also has a room named after her.

In Hollywood, where much of Giant was made, Ferber had substantial input. She was a hands-on contributor to elements of the plot and screenplay, and even before filming, she had thoughts on the cast. It is very eye-opening to read her discussion of how the movie came to be, including how various actors were considered for roles and sometimes were not cast simply because they were unavailable. Hollywood in the 1950s was a far different enterprise than it is today.

GIANT LOVE is a thoroughly researched and wonderfully told story of a film that some have called “the national movie of Texas.” In addition to being a brilliant book about how movies are made, it is an outstanding portrait of Edna Ferber, a true artist and pioneering spirit.

Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman

[Russell Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Julie Gilbert is the niece of Edna Ferber, the creator of the novel Giant. Loving both the novel and the film made from it, I was excited to read Gilbert’s Giant Love: Edna Ferber, Her Best-Selling Novel of Texas, and the Making of a Classic American Film. I’m a native Texan. I find Ferber’s book to be a wonderful satiric portrait of rich Texans and a beautiful and powerful race relations statement. The film is my absolute favorite, for who cannot resist the charms of Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean as they portray the engaging story of love and pride in the Lone Star State, so incredibly directed by George Stevens. I was so excited about Gibert’s book that I purchased it and then let it set on my shelf for months, not wanting to read it and then not have the pleasure of anticipation. When I finally just read it, I was not disappointed. It was not the book I expected, for I thought it would be another “making of” book. What it is is a dense, easily readable, fact-filled examination of how an author works—particularly, of course, Edna Ferber— how a film is put together, and the impact Giant has had on the popular culture. Gilbert, being the niece, had unprecedented access to Ferber’s notes, life, and correspondence. So much is quoted that gives us intense insight into this remarkable woman, very human person, and author extraordinaire. We can marvel at her work process, her relationships, and her insecurities. We delve into the minute workings of putting a monumental, epic film together, and the critical reaction and results of its popularity. Giant Love may not be the book I was hoping for, but it turned out to be so much more. As a lover of the works of Edna Ferber and an admirer of this magnificent film, I feel enriched immensely by Julie Gilbert’s book. And now, I shall go watch Giant for probably the tenth or twelfth time!

[Alan Kaplan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Giant Love is supposed to be about the making of the classic film about Texas, Giant. It is really about Edna Ferber who is mostly forgotten today, but was a best selling author in the last century. Miss Ferber wrote the book Giant and was a partner in the making of the film, which is still seen today. Giant is an excellent movie starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean. James Dean died in a car wreck while the movie was being filmed. His last scene was dubbed by someone else. It was James Dean's last movie. The problem with the book is that there is too much about Edna Ferber, her name dropping friends, her letters, her feuds, yada yada yada. Sorry, she is not that interesting. In fact, she is pretty boring. She did live an amazing life, however. The final part of the book is the making of the movie, Giant. That part of the book is very interesting, and you wonder how any movie can be made with all of the complications and people trying to screw with it. One part I disagree with and I will admit that this is nitpicking. One of many name drops in the book is about Alger Hiss. The author, Julie Gilbert, writes, that Alger Hiss was "a government official accused of being a Soviet spy." Typical liberal nonsense. With the opening of the Soviet archives in the 1990's, Alger Hiss was a Russian spy, no ifs ands or buts. Hiss was convicted of perjury, but he was still a Russian spy. By the way, so was Julius Rosenberg. The left needs to give up those two projects. Ignore most of the stuff about Edna Ferber and move to the section about the movie, Giant. A better book about the making of a movie is Cocktails with George and Martha about the making of Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf.

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giant Love is written by Julie Gilbert, a great-niece of Edna Ferber. Prior to receiving this book I had read her Pulitzer Prize winning novel, So Big, but was unaware of how prolific and successful she was. This book sent me down the rabbit hole exploring Ferber's works and I am so grateful for that!

Gilbert has taken the story of her great-aunt's life, the book she wrote - Giant - and the film adaptation starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean. I enjoyed the way she knit the entire story together. I was fascinated by the meticulous research Ferber did for the book -- and her other books as well. It was interesting to see the reception she received upon publication, with most of the world loving the book, but Texans feeling angry for her portrayal of their culture.

Ferber was very protective of her characters, especially the female lead, Leslie, who she wrote as a strong, independent and compassionate woman who called out racism. She fought for every detail of how Leslie would be portrayed on screen. This book made me love Ferber.

I also genuinely enjoyed the inside look at 1950s Hollywood. There were a lot of intimate details about the three main actors that allowed me to feel like I knew them better. I particularly loved the relationship between septuagenarian Ferber and the young actor, James Dean. The moments they shared were touching and fun. Gilbert was able to make all of these people relatable, fully-formed humans, instead of the mythical figures from the silver screen.

Since I finished this book I have read Giant, Cimarron, the 3 volumes of Emma McChesney stories and Saratoga Trunk. I will tackle Fanny Herself next. Like Gilbert, I wish her great-aunt's works were more widely read today!

[Rich Yavorsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aside from your misrepresentation of a fine group of people, I also note that you are trying to weave in the race prejudice you northerners, especially Jews, are always raving about. You mention such an inappropriate item, if even true, as that at the hotel there were signs “Ladies” and “Colored Women.” I know such things as toilets so designated do not exist in hotels in Texas for the simple reason that colored people do not go to the best hotels, as they are not permitted at the best hotels in New York or anywhere else. You northerners are always preaching about segregation when there is more flagrant segregation in the north than in the south. --Letter to Ferber from a native Texan, in response to the film

I think that in order to write really well and convincingly one must be somewhat poisoned by emotion. Dislike, displeasure, resentment, fault-finding, indignation, passionate remonstrance, a sense of injustice, these are perhaps corrosive to the container but they make fine fuel. --Edna Ferber

The first half: a Ferber biography, which gets tedious. Personality-wise she is a bit stiff but as a writer she was admirably, devoutly dedicated to her craft.

The second half: a deeper look into the production of the film, and the relationships between the producer (Ginsberg), director (Stevens), author, and stars (Hudson, Taylor, Dean, others). Dean's death, critical receptions and legacy is examined. The circumstances around Dean's death was new and interesting territory for me; the candid set photos are terrific.

See the movie. If you like what you saw, come back for this book.

[Sherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to read an advance copy of this book thanks to Edelweiss, it is due to be released 12/03/24. This nonfiction book is the story of Edna Ferber's "Giant", encompassing the planning of the novel, the writing and reception of the work and the film based on it. It is notable that the book is written by Edna Ferber's great niece and the author has insight into and memory of many of the events in the book. The book offers a fascinating look into Edna Ferber's way of work and includes a treasure trove of her correspondence. Exactly half of the book explores the novel "Giant" before moving into a very detailed and well notated exploration of the making of the movie. The author explores the themes of the book and movie and how they were shaped by the state of the nation and the state of Texas in the fifties, as well as providing a comprehensive look at the behind-the-scenes deals involved in the production of the movie. She allows the reader to get to know many of the bigger than life personalities in the film such as George Stevens, Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean. There is a detailed look at the interaction onset and off between Hudson, Taylor and Dean and how Dean's untimely death effected the film. This reviewer considers herself a bit of an expert on James Dean and Dennis Hopper, and I found material on each in this book that I had never seen before. This book is an outstanding resource for both those with an interest in literature and cinema, it is highly recommended for library collections and bookstores.

[Natalia Weissfeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julie Gilbert’s Giant Love is a fascinating and heartfelt exploration of the making of Edna Ferber’s iconic novel Giant and its subsequent adaptation into a classic American film. Blending conscientious research with personal stories, Gilbert—Ferber’s niece—delivers a vivid depiction of her aunt’s life, work, and legacy.
The book delves into Ferber’s creative process, the cultural and political context that inspired her, and the sweeping ambition of Giant, often regarded as the quintessential novel of Texas. Gilbert’s access to Ferber’s personal archives, combined with her own memories, brings a deeply personal touch to the narrative, offering insights into Ferber’s vibrant personality, literary genius, and the challenges she faced as a trailblazing woman in a male-dominated literary world.
Gilbert also provides a behind-the-scenes account of the Hollywood adaptation, exploring how the film captured the essence of the novel even with the script modifications, while becoming a landmark in cinema history. She examines the public reception of both the book and the movie, celebrating their enduring impact on American culture.
The book is richly documented and engagingly written, with a warmth and intimacy that make it a joy to read. Gilbert’s love and admiration for her aunt shine through, making Giant Love not just a study of a literary and cinematic masterpiece but also a heartfelt tribute to an extraordinary woman. If you love stories about the Hollywood golden age this book is an absolute treasure!

[Peter Houlahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely intriguing story filled with fascinating "characters." The impact the book and movie had on American culture cannot be understated. Writer Edna Ferber is a major literary figure who helped define the way Americans saw themselves in the first half of the 20th Century - And "Giant" is a big reason why. Ferber played a major, albeit cautious role in getting this book to the screen. Director George Stevens is another huge cultural figure and won the Oscar for the movie. Put Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, and a teenage Dennis Hopper in there, and it get's pretty wild. Everyone involved took a huge risk by splashing the issue of racial bigotry across the big screen in 1956. It could have ended all their careers, but instead helped usher in the civil rights movement. It also happens to be a gorgeously filmed movie, a masterpiece of cinematography.

Julie Gilbert did a pretty amazing job researching, and especially writing this sweeping story. She previously wrote the definitive biography of Edna Ferber, which is the best foundation upon which the entire story rests. Ferber also happens to be her great aunt and huge presence in her young life.

I'm not a film nut, and was attracted to this book because I'm fascinated with 20th century era American history. But the film nuts I do know absolutely loved that "behind the scenes" look at the actors and film industry. Can you tell I absolutely love this book? (And did you notice how I avoided using the word "Giant" as among all my superlatives here!)

[Derrick Jeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Until Larry McMurtry published his Texas epic Lonesome Dove in 1985, Edna Ferber’s 1952 Texas epic Giant was the quintessential Texas novel—at least in the popular mind. But whereas McMurtry’s book was celebrated in Texas, by Texans, Ferber’s book was, by and large, criticized in Texas, by Texans. Giant was about as welcomed in Texas as beans in chili. All that changed, however, when her novel was adapted into the classic film by the same name. That George Stevens, the director of Giant, shot the Texas exteriors in Texas, on the Ryan Ranch outside of Marfa, opened the set to the citizens of Marfa, and hired a Texan as the dialogue coach (Robert Hinkle) went a long way in building goodwill among Texans. The story of how the novel and the movie came about is wonderfully captured in Julie Gilbert’s behind the scenes book Giant Love. Others have written about the making of the film, Don Graham’s Giant: Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Edna Ferber, and the Making of a Legendary American Film (2018) comes to mind, but what makes Gilbert’s book unique is the fact that she had inside information someone like Graham didn’t have. Sitting from the perch of being Edna Ferber’s great-niece provided Gilbert’s exclusive access into the mind and character of Ferber—and it show in her work.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion, Edna Ferber was one of the great novelists and dramatists of the mid-twentieth century but her name rarely comes up in discussion anymore.

In 1952, she published what was probably her most famous book, Giant. It is the saga of the Benedicts, a Texas ranching family of vast wealth and holdings, and of Jett Rink, a ranch hand who made an even greater fortune when he discovered oil. Texans were offended by what sounded like criticism of their way of life and society. Ferber did not stint on portraying the racism against the Mexicans and Mexican-Americans, who lived in poor conditions, were badly paid, and experienced prejudice in many aspects of life.

Giant was made into a movie directed by George Stevens, and starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean, who famously died racing his Porsche just after filming ended. It was only his third film, and he was just 24 years old.

This book is partly a biographical study of Ferber, and an account of the film's making, which was protracted for many reasons, but eventually was released late in 1956. It was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, and won for Best Director.

This is a great read for anyone who has read Ferber, or seen the movie, and also for those interested in twentieth-century writers and cinema history. Ferber had a great talent and it would be wonderful to see her work revived.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is alternately tedious and fascinating. At times, especially in the first section, the writer should have published her aunt Edna's (Ferber) letters since she doesn't comment on them with much to add. When she arrives at the film version of Ferber's novel "Giant" though, Ferber often disappears from the narrative as the film people (especially James Dean) take center stage. She laments that Ferber isn't really read anymore, but she could make a stronger case throughout the book why she is essential reading today. I have read "Giant" in the past, hence my interest in this book, and I think I may give "So Big" a try based on its description. So in this instance at least, Gilbert's "Giant Love" might be termed a success.

She does need a fact checker at times. She writes that Elizabeth Taylor, for example, never talked to George Stevens, the director of "Giant," again after how he treated her after Dean's death. But Stevens and Taylor worked together on "The Only Game in Town" 15 years later. The movie is pretty bad so I can understand how Gilbert might not have known about it. But her editor should have.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

My recollection of the story in Edna Ferber's "Giant" comes from the movie rather than the novel, but it's interesting to learn about the origins of both. (I first viewed the film at the Varsity Theater in Austin.) This book, authored by Ferber's grand-niece, offers thought-provoking insights. The film is an epic depiction of a powerful Texas ranching family facing challenges from changing times and the rise of the oil industry. It received widespread acclaim from both the public and critics, winning numerous Academy Awards. One reason for its success was the tragic death of one of the principal characters, played by actor James Dean, who died in a Porsche Spyder sports car crash shortly after the movie was “canned.” Known for his prankish behavior both on the movie set and in life, Dean embodied that persona in the film. His legacy lives large in celluloid even to this day. Five stars to the section of the book that details the remote filming of the movie in Marfa, an isolated Texas town. Of lesser interest to me was the first part of the book, which discusses Ferber's thought processes leading up to the novel's writing.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julie Gilbert must have inherited all Edna Ferber's notes for Freber's many books. This one is a grand bathtub to wash with a cloth that shows how Edna, her great aunt researched, keep notes about her thoughts and classifying them so she could remember what she had been thinking to write. I was saturated in Ferber as I would read a while, skip a bit and get back to it all through the book of Giant Love. Julie did an excellent job- I need to go back and read Giant and some of Ferber's other books and see the movies. At this point, armed with a bit of knowledge and not the will to read all presented in this book, I am glad to know and get excited about following the theme with further reading.

[Jwt Jan50 · Rating 5 out of 5]

'To be alive is a fine thing. It is the finest thing in the world, though hazardous. It is a unique thing. It happens only once in a lifetime. To be alive, to know consciously that you are alive, and to relish that knowledge - this is a kind of magic.' Austen, Alcott, Wharton, Thurston, Undset . . . writers you'd probably like to know better. 2 recommendations - if you haven't read Ferber - read this in parallel with 'Giant.' Second, if you're still looking for more - read 'Ellen's' impeccable review here. Are there flaws - absolutely. Just like every attractive, interesting, hard working individual you know. Oh by the way - Ferber also wrote 2 autobiographical works.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read about Edna Ferber's book about Texas (made into the movie "Giant") and the treatment of Mexicans back in the 40-50's. People today probably don't know about her literary genius and the many books she wrote about life in USA.Two quotes at end of book that stuck with me as I finished the book out and seems relevant in today's world... #1 - "There is an interesting resemblance in the speeches of dictators, no matter what country they may hail from or what language they may speak." and #2 - "A bully must be met with instant repulse or he multiplies his own violence. A placated bully is a hand-fed bully."

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is much better covering the history of the film than the book. The reason is that the book sections rely WAY too much on long, direct quotations from letters, memos and interviews. It gives the reading the feel of a scrapbook that needed editing and paraphrasing. The brief personal reflections of the author (Edna Ferber's niece) were welcome. But most readers may tire of the persnickety comments of Ferber to various publishers, critics, and movie figures. The book does perform a needed service - introducing a whole generation of readers to the work of a neglected American writer.

[Alan Kimball · Rating 4 out of 5]

A behind the scenes look at the movie Giant. Interesting and written in context to the time period, the book explores the filmmaking of movie Giant, from the beautiful Elizabeth Taylor, the movie star of her time period, Rock Hudson, who was a man man's in his choice of roles was a surprising addition to the cast. To find out, read the book. It's quite an interesting tale and the rebel James Dean whose untimely death cast him as an actor with a lot to look forward to but was cut short too soon. Even the director George Stevens is given a context to why he did the movie.

[Edward Amato · Rating 4 out of 5]

I particularly enjoyed reading this because a friend had lent me both "Giant" and "Showboat" in recent years. it is so interesting that an author so popular fifty years ago is so unknown today. I agree with the author (her Grandniece) that her novels are relevant today especially as we are experiencing such ugliness in our political leadership. Definitely worth reading especially after reading some of Ferber's Novels. Can't wait to see the movie.

[Elyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Giant is one of my favorite films so I was interested in learning about the woman who wrote the original story and the film adaptation. This book was well researched and maybe went too far with extra and unnecessary details. I think it would have benefited from more editing because it felt like a slog at times and when she finally described the film production I was growing weary and just wanted more focus.