The Original
A Novel
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The Original
Pre-order Now for £18.39
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Narrated by:
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By:
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Priya Parmar
About this listen
“A riveting and unputdownable journey through fame, rebellion, and the relentless pursuit of authenticity.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Christina Baker Kline
“A bold, breathtaking novel about the making of Katharine Hepburn—vivid, daring and full of emotional bite. This is a novel you press into your best friend’s hands the moment you finish.”—Paula McLain, New York Times bestselling author of Skylark and The Paris Wife
When young Katharine Hepburn loses her beloved brother, she makes two decisions: She will become famous, and she will never let anyone hurt her again. Leaving home at twenty-one to pursue a career on Broadway, Kate is talent-spotted, screen-tested, and lured to Los Angeles, accompanied by her lover, Laura. Hollywood in the early 1930s is a town full of secrets. Everyone comes with a story. When Kate arrives in California to launch her film career, she leaves behind her East Coast marriage and icy patrician family to live and love on her own terms. Soon she is scooped into the studio system and launched as a star—but stars must play by the rules and Kate, brilliant, bisexual, and strong-willed, refuses to conform.
Surrounded by a legendary circle of intimates, including the powerful David and Irene Selznick, charming and romantically conflicted actor Cary Grant, ambitious director John Ford, and millionaire tycoon Howard Hughes, Kate navigates a web of sex, rivalry, and betrayal. As Kate’s career ascends, she faces an agonizing choice: be the star everyone wants her to be, or risk everything to become the woman she always was.
The author of the New York Times Notable Book Vanessa and Her Sister has created a propulsive, emotionally charged novel exploring the cost of fame. With sharp prose and unforgettable characters, The Original is a story of love, aspiration, and the price of living authentically in a world that demands you become someone else.
Critic reviews
“A bold, breathtaking novel about the making of Katharine Hepburn—vivid, daring, and full of emotional bite. This is a novel you press into your best friend’s hands the moment you finish. Priya Parmar is a true original, and this novel proves it.”—Paula McLain, New York Times bestselling author of Skylark
“A riveting and unputdownable journey through fame, rebellion, and the relentless pursuit of authenticity. Priya Parmar has written a novel that lingers in the mind and heart. . . . As thought-provoking as it is beautiful.”—Christina Baker Kline, New York Times bestselling author of The Foursome
“The magnificent Priya Parmar has written an unforgettable novel about a beloved American icon. The Original is an imaginative and daring leap into the Golden Age of Hollywood star machine. Lights! Camera! Read!”—Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of The View from Lake Como
“A brilliant, ambitious woman determined to live—and love—on her own terms, in an era when bold and unconventional choices could destroy a career overnight . . . Fans of early Hollywood will devour this novel.”—Kristin Hannah New York Times bestselling author of The Women
“A luminous, fiercely intimate portrait of a fascinating and enigmatic legend carving her own path . . . Parmar’s prose is poetic, electric, and deeply affecting.”—John Searles, New York Times bestselling author of Single Girls
“I read The Original with real delight—Priya Parmar’s complex evocation of Hepburn’s youth and early career, of the woman behind the icon, is tender, fierce, and beautiful. What a terrific novel!”—Claire Messud, New York Times bestselling author of This Strange Eventful History
“A riveting and unputdownable journey through fame, rebellion, and the relentless pursuit of authenticity. Priya Parmar has written a novel that lingers in the mind and heart. . . . As thought-provoking as it is beautiful.”—Christina Baker Kline, New York Times bestselling author of The Foursome
“The magnificent Priya Parmar has written an unforgettable novel about a beloved American icon. The Original is an imaginative and daring leap into the Golden Age of Hollywood star machine. Lights! Camera! Read!”—Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of The View from Lake Como
“A brilliant, ambitious woman determined to live—and love—on her own terms, in an era when bold and unconventional choices could destroy a career overnight . . . Fans of early Hollywood will devour this novel.”—Kristin Hannah New York Times bestselling author of The Women
“A luminous, fiercely intimate portrait of a fascinating and enigmatic legend carving her own path . . . Parmar’s prose is poetic, electric, and deeply affecting.”—John Searles, New York Times bestselling author of Single Girls
“I read The Original with real delight—Priya Parmar’s complex evocation of Hepburn’s youth and early career, of the woman behind the icon, is tender, fierce, and beautiful. What a terrific novel!”—Claire Messud, New York Times bestselling author of This Strange Eventful History
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