Chasing Salome, Martin Turnbull
Chasing Salome, Martin Turnbull
List: $32.99 | Sale: $23.10
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Chasing Salome
A Novel of 1920s Hollywood

Author: Martin Turnbull

Narrator: Romy Nordlinger

Unabridged: 11 hr 7 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/07/2020


Synopsis

Hollywood, 1920

Alla Nazimova has reached the pinnacle of success. She is the highest-paid actress in town, with a luxurious estate, the respect of her peers, adoration of her fans, and a series of lovers that has included the first wife of her protégé, Rudolph Valentino.

But reaching the top is one thing. Staying there is an entirely different matter.

Nazimova dreams of producing a motion picture of Oscar Wilde’s infamous “Salomé.” It will be a new form of moviemaking: the world’s first art film.

But the same executives at Metro Pictures who hailed Nazimova as a genius when she was churning out hit after hit now turn their backs because her last few movies have flopped.

Taking matters into her own hands, Nazimova decides to shoot “Salomé” herself. But it means risking everything she has: her reputation, her fortune, her beautiful home, and even her lavender marriage. But will it be enough to turn her fortunes around? Or will Hollywood cut her out of the picture?

From the author of the Hollywood’s Garden of Allah novels and based on a true story, “Chasing Salomé” takes us inside Nazimova’s struggle to achieve a new level of stardom by raising the flickers to an art form.

About The Author

Martin Turnbull has worked as a private tour guide showing both locals and out-of-towners the movie studios, Beverly Hills mansions, Hollywood hills vistas and where all the bodies are buried. For nine years, he has also volunteered as an historical walking tour docent with the Los Angeles Conservancy. He worked for a summer as a guide at the Warner Bros. movie studios in Burbank showing movie fans through the sound stages where Bogie and Bacall, Bette Davis, Errol Flynn, and James Cagney created some of Hollywood's classic motion pictures. From an early age, Martin was enchanted with old movies from Hollywood's golden era-from the dawn of the talkies in the late 1920s to the dusk of the studio system in the late 1950s-and has spent many, many a happy hour watching the likes of Garland, Gable, Crawford, Garbo, Grant, Miller, Kelly, Astaire, Rogers, Turner, Welles go through their paces. When he discovered the wonderful world of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs, his love of reading merged with his love of movies and his love of history to produce a three-headed hydra gobbling up everything in his path. Ever since then, he's been on a mission to learn and share as much as he can about this unique time. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Martin moved to Los Angeles in the mid-90s. Official website: www.MartinTurnbull.com  


Reviews

Goodreads review by Helen on October 26, 2019

I loved Martin Turnbull's Garden of Allah series so when I heard, via email/newsletter, that he was writing a biography of the great Alla Nazimova, silent film movie actress, I wondered would it be as entertaining as the Garden of Allah series. Fortunately, Martin Turnbull, is a GREAT writer! This b......more

Goodreads review by Leila on September 10, 2019

Fantastic book! I’m transported back to the era of the moviemakers in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. From the male dominated companies to women trying to enter the movie business, Alla Nazimova tried it all (almost). Excellent historical fiction!well worth the read for anyone.......more

Goodreads review by Gary R Borman on September 17, 2019

Another fantastic Novel As in all the previous novels, once you start it is an all night reading experience. This is an amazing look into a true Hollywood Legend......more

Goodreads review by Coffeenoir (David on May 26, 2021

This is the second Martin Turnbull book I have read but will not be the last! I would definitely recommend this to any with an interest in early Hollywood. I was especially happy with tge authors notes at the end because I had wondered how much was based on real life, so thanks for that info. Also t......more

Goodreads review by Lauren on March 22, 2020

Fantastic! If you’ve read Martin Turnbull’s Garden of Allah Series you will love knowing more about the “landlord.” Alla gave me major Scarlet O’Hara vibes in how she deals with people and her troubles. I’m not even a Valentino fan and now I want to read about him! So many good, real, personalities......more