Random House Publishing Group
Search
Expand Mobile Menu
The Original

The Original

A Novel

About the Book

This stunning novel plunges into the tumultuous life of screen icon Katharine Hepburn, a star whose fierce independence, passionate spirit, and fluid sexuality shattered Hollywood’s rules and redefined what it meant to be a woman in film.

“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.
Read more
Close

Praise for The Original

“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
Read more
Close

About the Author

Priya Parmar
Priya Parmar is the author of the novels Exit the Actress and Vanessa and Her Sister, a New York Times Notable Book. Co-author of the musical Sylvia (London Old Vic), she lives between London and Connecticut with her family and four rescue dogs. More by Priya Parmar
Decorative Carat

By clicking submit, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and understand that Penguin Random House collects certain categories of personal information for the purposes listed in that policy, discloses, sells, or shares certain personal information and retains personal information in accordance with the policy. You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime.

Random House Publishing Group