The Memory of All That - Softcover

Forbes, Bryan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 000651278X ISBN 13: 9780006512783

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2000

Synopsis

The price of a soul, or cost of success, for a hero in Hollywood.

Robert Peterson, encouraged by easy words and the success of one novel, is a Hollywood innocent. His first lessons are harsh; pornographic films with a waiter’s job to pay the rent seem the only option. Then he meets a powerful, eccentric British producer who, liking a Svengali role, adds Robert to his stable of wannabes. But there is a price...

Bryan Forbes’ powerful new novel is filled with great characters. The women in Robert’s life include the wholly ambitious, sexy Amanda; the domesticated Tracey with the morals of an alleycat; the beautiful, empty Lauren, whom only the camera defines. And the men who teach him the lessons of life include a knife-throwing English director more histrionic than his stars, the agents, double-dealing in wives and clients, and the fellow script writers with strange secrets.

Who could live in the middle of all this scheming ambition and survive?

About this title

Review:

‘A fascinating novel. Utterly compelling and wonderfully authentic.’ William Boyd

‘A wonderfully evocative novel about Hollywood in the 1950’s, one that captivates... Bryan Forbes has captured an era, an industry, a very unique ‘company’ town and all its diverse players, and he has done so with unerring precision. A page turner’
Barbara Taylor Bradford

‘A splendidly evocative novel... . This dark love story of obsession and passion has a great cast of colourful characters and a fascinating plot decorated with much authentic detail. This is an immensely enjoyable read.’ Sunday Telegraph

‘Forbes’ astute eye for period detail and characterisation keeps the action rippling along as we follow our hero on his wry everyman quest in the technicolour style of a Tinseltown musical blockbuster.’ The Scotsman

From the Back Cover:

A young writer, desperate for fame and fortune, allows himself to be seduced and corrupted by the sweet smell of success. A great cast of characters, a dark love story of obsession and passion, a wonderful chronicle of Hollywood.

Showbusiness veteran Bryan Forbes has written a wonderfully evocative novel about Hollywood in the 1950's, one that captivates. His protagonist Robert Peterson rings so true to life he's breathtaking at times, and in a sense he's an innocent abroad in the glamorous, sleazy, tough, glittering, exciting world of Hollywood in the days when the big studios held sway. Everything is on target, and Bryan Forbes has captured an era, an industry, a very unique 'company' town and all its diverse players, and he has done so with unerring precision. A page-tuner.
BARBARA TAYLOR BRADFORD

As with all Faustian concepts, initially the bells ring and the sun shines with a brilliant hue. Yet Robert Peterson knows he is a fraud: one day he will have to deliver the goods. Can he do it? Decorated with authentic details: the double-dealing agent, the smooth-talking executive, the actress who sleeps her way to the bottom. 'The Memory of all that' is ideal for an afternoon of quiet tanning on the chaise longue.
AMANDA FOREMAN 'Mail on Sunday'

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 000651278X
• ISBN 13: 9780006512783
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 480