Step into the captivating world of Hollywood with The Grove Book of Hollywood, an anthology that serves as a "treasure trove" of insider accounts about the movie business. This collection offers readers an exceedingly savvy, astute, and entertaining look at how Hollywood evolved from a dusty village to the storied capital of cinema we know today.
Within these pages, you will find an array of anecdotes and reminiscences from those who have shaped the industry, including movie moguls, embittered screenwriters, and bemused outsiders such as P. G. Wodehouse and Evelyn Waugh. Organized chronologically, the book pieces together a rich tapestry of Hollywood's history as told by the insiders themselves. You will encounter the first settlers of Hollywood, gaining insights into their lives, as well as key players from the exhilarating era of the studio system during the 1930s.
The anthology dives deep, sharing stories from victims of the Hollywood blacklist to contemporary figures navigating a world ruled by agents. The personal recollections vary widely, swinging from affectionate to scathing and from cynical to grandiose. Expect to read about John Huston’s notorious fistfight with Errol Flynn, Cecil B. DeMille’s challenges while filming The Ten Commandments, and William Goldman’s observations on the peculiar behaviors of Hollywood executives during meetings. This collection is filled with invaluable insights and captivating narrations.
Lauded as a "masterly, magnificent anthology" by the Literary Review in London, The Grove Book of Hollywood is an absolute must-read for anyone with a passion for film, the allure of Hollywood, or the intricate stories behind the silver screen.
