What do you think?
Rate this book
The Memory of All That
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 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 alley cat; and 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 scriptwriters with strange secrets. Who could live in the middle of all this scheming ambition and survive?
- GenresFiction
480 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2004
About the author
Bryan Forbes
41 books7 followersBryan Forbes CBE (born John Theobald Clarke) was an English film director, screenwriter, film producer, actor and novelist, described as a "Renaissance man" and "one of the most important figures in the British film industry".
He directed the film The Stepford Wives (1975) and wrote and directed several other critically acclaimed films, including Whistle Down the Wind (1961), Séance on a Wet Afternoon (1964), and King Rat (1965). He also scripted several films directed by others, such as The League of Gentlemen (1960), The Angry Silence (1960) and Only Two Can Play (1962).
Forbes wrote two volumes of autobiography and several successful novels, the last of which, The Soldier's Story, was published in 2012.He was a regular contributor to The Spectator magazine.
He directed the film The Stepford Wives (1975) and wrote and directed several other critically acclaimed films, including Whistle Down the Wind (1961), Séance on a Wet Afternoon (1964), and King Rat (1965). He also scripted several films directed by others, such as The League of Gentlemen (1960), The Angry Silence (1960) and Only Two Can Play (1962).
Forbes wrote two volumes of autobiography and several successful novels, the last of which, The Soldier's Story, was published in 2012.He was a regular contributor to The Spectator magazine.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 27, 2019
I think the story was probably good enough. The main character wasn't British but the writing was so filled with British-isms that I was distracted.
January 9, 2015
This was a hidden gem that I found by accident. I loved the insider Hollywood bits and all the script rewrites! I have gone back to it several times for character analysis.
September 8, 2019
Slow Hollywood burn
First person narrative, starting in 1952, of the work and love life of a young screenwriter as he makes his way. There’s no happy endings, and yet, it’s a life.
First person narrative, starting in 1952, of the work and love life of a young screenwriter as he makes his way. There’s no happy endings, and yet, it’s a life.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews