Melting the Snow on Hester Street

Rich. Beautiful. Damned.

Sumptuously evoking the Golden Age of Hollywood, a time when money is built on greed and love can be a trick of the light, Daisy Waugh's stunning new novel is a compelling portrait of love, fame, and survival.

October 1929: As America helterskelters through the last days before the great crash the cream of Hollywood parties heedlessly on.

Beneath the sophistication and elegance, Hollywood society couple Max and Eleanor Beecham are on the brink of divorce, their finances teetering on a knife's edge after a series of failed films. As the stock market tumbles it seems they have nowhere to turn but to the arms of their waiting lovers.

Hope is delivered in an invitation to one of the legendary weekend parties at Hearst Castle, where the prohibition champagne will be flowing and the room filled with every Hollywood big-shot around. They cannot resist one last chance of making it.

Scandalous, absurdly glamorous, the Hearst party is the epitome of Golden Era decadence, but for Max and Eleanor the time has come to make a decision that will change their future. Will they sacrifice everything for fame and fortune or plunge into their hidden past and grasp one last chance to love each other again?

If you love the decadence of 20s America and can't wait for The Great Gatsby film, here's a brilliant book to tide you over…

“'unputdownable' DAILY MAIL "The delicately constructed plot keeps you guessing until the end … Waugh creates the early Hollywood world with verve and conviction in this taut, clever and moving novel" TLS "dazzlingly evoked" Sunday Times 'A lubricious new novel … period charm and sexual intrigue' TATLER 'A dizzy tale about greed, love, fame and money.' HEAT 'Gripping, glamorous and poignant, it's a cracking tale that will keep you hooked from beginning to end' HELLO! 'Sunset Boulevard meets Nancy Mitford' RED 'This reminded me of Liza Klaussmann's Tigers in Red Weather… a great companion piece for all the Gatsby fuss around this month… An absorbing, glamorous read.' Viv Groskop, RED BOOK CLUB 'gripping… powerful, evocative' THE LADY "Waugh blends fact and fiction in an intoxicating tale of life under the glittering veneer of Tinsel Town" Daily Record”

‘unputdownable’ DAILY MAIL

"The delicately constructed plot keeps you guessing until the end … Waugh creates the early Hollywood world with verve and conviction in this taut, clever and moving novel" TLS

"dazzlingly evoked" Sunday Times

‘A lubricious new novel … period charm and sexual intrigue’ TATLER

‘A dizzy tale about greed, love, fame and money.’ HEAT

‘Gripping, glamorous and poignant, it’s a cracking tale that will keep you hooked from beginning to end’ HELLO!

‘Sunset Boulevard meets Nancy Mitford’ RED

‘This reminded me of Liza Klaussmann’s Tigers in Red Weather… a great companion piece for all the Gatsby fuss around this month… An absorbing, glamorous read.’ Viv Groskop, RED BOOK CLUB

‘gripping… powerful, evocative’ THE LADY

"Waugh blends fact and fiction in an intoxicating tale of life under the glittering veneer of Tinsel Town" Daily Record

Daisy Waugh was born in 1967. A journalist and travel writer for many publications, Daisy has worked as an Agony Aunt for The Independent and as a restaurant critic. She also wrote a weekly column from Los Angeles about her attempts to become a Hollywood screenwriter. She has presented for Channel Four's Travelogue show and also contributed to Radio Four's You and Yours. Daisy has had two previous novels published to great critical acclaim, What is the matter with Mary Jane? and in January 2002, The New You Survival Kit. Her travel book about living in Northern Kenya, A Small Town in Africa, was also very well received. She now lives in West London with her husband and two children.

October 1929: As America helterskelters through the last days before the great crash the cream of Hollywood parties heedlessly on.Beneath the sophistication and elegance, Hollywood society couple Max and Eleanor Beecham are on the brink of divorce, their finances teetering on a knife's edge after a series of failed films. As the stock market tumbles it seems they have nowhere to turn but to the arms of their waiting lovers. Hope is delivered in an invitation to one of the legendary weekend parties at Hearst Castle, where the prohibition champagne will be flowing and the room filled with every Hollywood big-shot around. They cannot resist one last chance of making it. Scandalous, absurdly glamorous, the Hearst party is the epitome of Golden Era decadence, but for Max and Eleanor the time has come to make a decision that will change their future. Will they sacrifice everything for fame and fortune or plunge into their hidden past and grasp one last chance to love each other again?October 1929: As America helterskelters through the last days before the great crash the cream of Hollywood parties heedlessly on.Beneath the sophistication and elegance, Hollywood society couple Max and Eleanor Beecham are on the brink of divorce, their finances teetering on a knife's edge after a series of failed films. As the stock market tumbles it seems they have nowhere to turn but to the arms of their waiting lovers. Hope is delivered in an invitation to one of the legendary weekend parties at Hearst Castle, where the prohibition champagne will be flowing and the room filled with every Hollywood big-shot around. They cannot resist one last chance of making it. Scandalous, absurdly glamorous, the Hearst party is the epitome of Golden Era decadence, but for Max and Eleanor the time has come to make a decision that will change their future. Will they sacrifice everything for fame and fortune or plunge into their hidden past and grasp one last chance to love each other again?

They saved each other once. Can they save each other again? It is the blistering summer of 1929 and Hollywood's glamorous set appear to have it all. Everybody everywhere is living the Hollywood dream, including the elegant and charming, high-society couple, actor and actress Maximilian and Eleanor Beecham. But beneath the sophistication and glamour their insecure and unhappy marriage is on the brink of divorce and their finances are teetering on a knife's edge after a series of failed films. When the creditors come in to take possession of the house, it seems all is lost and they have nowhere to turn but into the arms of their waiting lovers. But when they receive an invitation to one of the legendary weekend house parties at Hearst Castle - which they know will be filled every Hollywood big-shot around - they cannot resist one last shot of making it in the film industry. With gossip, glamour, scandal and decadence the party is the epitome of the Golden Era, but for Maximilian and Eleanor the time has come to make a decision that will change their future. Will they sacrifice everything for fame and fortune or can Eleanor and Maximilian learn to love each other again?

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