Warhol saw a dynamic, charismatic woman with money and connections. Holzer, for her part, wanted to be a star and thought Warhol could get her there. The sight of a camera sent shivers through her.

While Andy Warhol remains among the art world’s most celebrated superstars, best-selling biographer Laurence Leamer in his latest book uncovers the decidedly dark side of Warhol’s rise to ...