Maf, short for Mafia Honey, is a Maltese terrier given to Marilyn Monroe by Frank Sinatra as a cheer-up gift following her separation from playwright Arthur Miller. Marilyn’s world is revealed through the eyes of a dog with generations of breeding, lofty knowledge of all the great philosophers, and several lives. As he tells us: ‘God is not in his place of work and is not answering his phone – get it? You don’t get saved, brothers and sisters, you get reassigned.’ His canine observations reveal fleeting glimpses of the real Marilyn, but highlight the world she lived in – the sharp intellectuals of New York, psychotherapy, Frank Sinatra’s view of the presidential campaign and the techniques used by the legendary teacher Lee Strasberg. Maf is in thrall to his beautiful owner ‘who always carries a book in her handbag’ and does his best to ease her through her enforced stay at the Payne Whitney clinic and her recuperation afterwards in Mexico. Marilyn is depicted as someone trying her hardest to earn respect among people who often regarded her otherwise – and the little dog’s narration pays a quirky and loving tribute.