LOS ANGELES: HOLLYWOOD AND BEYOND

Isherwood, Christopher. A single man, London : Methuen, 1965.

This is Christopher Isherwood's most autobiographical novel.  He casts himself as the protagonist, George, a university professor mourning the death of his male lover, Jim, and suffering much more than a mid-life crisis.

The appeal of the book lies in its emotional honesty and realism as George interacts with neighbours, students, friends and a possible new lover, a man nearly thirty years junior.  Isherwood has frozen a moment in time.  

Colin Firth won a Best Actor Oscar for his devastating performance as George in the movie version of 2010.