'A monument to crazy love. Magic' New York Times

'The actress arrived in his village the only way one could come directly . . .'

In spring 1962 American actress Dee Moray's boat motors into an Italian bay and the life of hotelier Pasquale Tursi. Dee - fleeing a film set, claiming to be dying and desperately awaiting her lover - throws herself on Pasquale's generous mercy. Fifty years later Pasquale lands in Hollywood, sporting a fedora and seeking a long-forgotten actress. Why he's come, what happened to Dee in Italy and, later, LA, are questions that Beautiful Ruins answers in the most surprising and wonderfully entertaining manner.

'Exhilarating. Very, very funny' The Times

The gorgeous, glamorous New York Times bestseller set in 1960s Italy and modern-day Hollywood - now a Penguin Essential.

About the Author
Jess Walter is the author of six novels, including The Financial Lives of the Poets and The Cold Millions. Beautiful Ruins was a New York Times bestseller, and We Live in Water was one of Barack Obama's books of 2019. Jess Walter lives in Spokane, Washington with his family.

Reviews
Just about the perfect summer read. It is intelligent and thought-provoking, but also a lot of fun. Reading hours fly by and reaching the final page feels like a genuine wrench * Sunday Times *
Ambitious, large-hearted, exhilarating novel that leaves you wanting more . . . Very, very funny * The Times *
Beautiful Ruins is a novel unlike any other you're likely to read this year -- Nick Hornby
Romantic, very funny...Turbo-charged satire meets a Garcia Marquezesque love story. What's not to like? * Daily Mail *
Walter creates an epic here - one that took him 15 years to write. The end result, however, is well worth the wait * Observer *
A sparkling summer read * Telegraph *
Thoroughly enjoyable, a tender, funny, ridiculous tale which has love at its core and a keen satirical edge to cut through the lovely, lush romanticism * Sunday Express *
You're going to love this book * New York Times Book Review *
A brilliant, madcap meditation on fate * Kirkus Reviews *
A novel shot in sparkly Technicolor * Booklist *
The beach read of the summer * Vogue *
Hilarious and compelling * Esquire *
Magic. Walter is a believer in capricious destiny with a fine, freewheeling sense of humour . . . A monument to crazy love with a deeply romantic heart * New York Times *
Poignant, comical and marvellous * San Francisco Chronicle *
Larger-than-life characters, billowy romance and crafty satire ... Any book that includes Richard Burton as a character is fine by us * Esquire *
Cinematic and utterly romantic . . . the big beach read for summer * Sunday Times *
My absolute favourite read this year -- Nick Curtis * Evening Standard 'Books of the Year' *
A bravura feat -- Peter Kemp * Sunday Times 'Books of the Year' *
Walter's account of the filming of the Burton/Taylor classic Cleopatra is a playful imagining of emotional history and hidden lives just out of view. Be warned, this is a novel that may make any festive guests somewhat anti-social as I read it in two days flat -- Olivia Cole * GQ 'Books of the Year' *



Book Information
ISBN 9780241986509
Author Jess Walter
Format Paperback
Page Count 352
Imprint Penguin Books Ltd
Publisher Penguin Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 193g
Dimensions(mm) 181mm * 111mm * 21mm