A young woman named Calista meets the famed Hollywood director Billy Wilder in the sweltering summer of 1976. She knows nothing about him or his work, but this chance encounter will change her life for good. But while Calista is thrilled with her new adventure, Wilder himself - struggling to raise the money for his next feature film - is living with the realisation that his star may be on the wane. In his new novel that is, by turns, funny, tender and profoundly truthful, Jonathan Coe turns his gaze to the nature of time, fame, family and nostalgia. When the world is catapulting towards change, do you hold on for dear life or decide it's time to let go?
Jonathan Coe
Jonathan Coe is a British author known for his humorous and satirical take on contemporary society and politics. His most notable works include "What a Carve Up!" and "The Rotters' Club," which explore themes of family, class, and the changing landscape of British society. Coe's writing style is characterized by sharp wit, clever wordplay, and keen observations of human behavior. He has been praised for his ability to blend comedy with social commentary, creating works that are both entertaining and thought-provoking. Coe's impact on the literary genre can be seen in his ability to capture the complexities of modern life with humor and insight. His most famous work, "What a Carve Up!," is a satirical novel that critiques the excesses of the 1980s and 1990s in Britain, and has been hailed as a modern classic.