The Valley of the Dolls Author:Jaqueline Susann VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, which grew out of Jacqueline Susanns own failed attempt to make a name for herself in showbiz, was far ahead of its time in its seamy sexuality and graphic treatment of drug addiction. An unrelenting look at exploitation, self-destruction, and the dark side of success, the book was also seen as a picture of the downside of ... more »"womens liberation," showing what happens to women who try to have it all. Susanns gritty anti-romance tells the story of Anne Welles, Neely O'Hara, and Jennifer North, three very different women who climb the ladder of success, only to trade glamour and glitz for pain, heartbreak, and a heavy dependence on pills (the "dolls" of the title). A year after its 1966 publication, VALLEY OF THE DOLLS was made into a motion picture starring Patty Duke as Neely, Barbara Parkins as Anne, and Sharon Tate as Jennifer.« less