Day of the Locust. The Friend of the Mourners

The novella Day of the Locust, written by West during his work in Hollywood at the beginning of the golden age of American cinema, is included in the lists of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century by Modern Library and the 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to 2005 by Time. In 1975, it was adapted into a film by classic American filmmaker John Schlesinger. Young set designer Tod Hackett belongs to the middle layers of the aristocracy of the dream factory. However, his acquaintance with the extraordinarily beautiful and tenacious aspiring actress Fay Greener and the small-time entrepreneur Homer Simpson, who is in love with her, introduces him to a completely new world of Hollywood's little people — stunt performers, extras, and bit actors. Tod could never have imagined what life hides behind the facade of cinematic paradise in reality… The edition also includes the novella The Friend of the Mourners.