First published 1982
Roman Polanski stands at the center of Hollywood's most turbulent era. The Polish-born director builds his reputation through films like Rosemary's Baby and Chinatown while wrestling with the trauma of his childhood during World War II. His marriage to actress Sharon Tate brings moments of happiness, but their life together ends in shocking violence when the Manson Family murders her in 1969. Polanski struggles to continue his work as grief consumes him. His artistic vision darkens as he channels personal anguish into his films. The story follows his journey from war-torn Europe to Hollywood success, examining how tragedy shapes both his life and his art. This fictional portrayal reveals a man caught between creative ambition and devastating loss.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, biographical-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional
Tropes: creative-ambition, grief
Setting: Hollywood, Europe
Period: World War II
256 pages · Hardcover · Hamish Hamilton
Content warnings: violence