West Of Eden

An epic, mesmerizing oral history of Hollywood and Los Angeles. West of Eden tells the stories of five larger-than-life... (more)

An epic, mesmerizing oral history of Hollywood and Los Angeles. West of Eden tells the stories of five larger-than-life individuals and their families, each one representing different aspects of Los Angeles and the American dream. There is Edward Doheny, the Wisconsin-born oil tycoon whose corruption ruins the reputation of a United States president and leads to his own son's violent death. Jack Warner, the son of Jewish Polish immigrants, joins with his brothers to found one of the world's most iconic film studios. Jane Garland, the troubled daughter of an aspiring actress, can never escape her mother's schemes. Jennifer Jones, a young actress from Oklahoma, wins an Academy Award at twenty-five but struggles with despair despite her fame and glamour. Finally, Stein chronicles the ascent of her own father, Jules Stein, an eye doctor born in Indiana who transforms Hollywood with the creation of an unrivaled agency and studio. Stein weaves the personal recollections of hundreds of people into an astonishing tapestry of voices telling the saga of a place like no other. (less)