The Big Love by Florence Aadland, reviewed for Ellroy Reads

The Big Love tells the story of the last romance of Errol Flynn’s life, his relationship with Beverly Aadland. But this is not a fairytale Hollywood romance in which a starlet falls for a Tinseltown prince. Beverly Aadland was fifteen years old when she met Flynn and right at the beginning of their relationship he rapes her. The Big Love portrays the Flynn/Beverly affair from the perspective of Beverly’s mother Florence, which only makes it more disturbing, as she is clearly dazzled by Flynn’s star power. However, this is all manipulation designed to make Florence hand over her daughter for him to sexually abuse.

It’s a shocking Hollywood story that found its way onto the cover Hush-Hush magazine, and naturally was of great interest to James Ellroy. Find out more in today’s episode of Ellroy Reads, and if you like the content then subscribe to the channel.