he: A Novel
John Connolly conjures the Golden Age of Hollywood in this moving, literary portrait of Laurel & Hardy—two men who found their true selves in a comedic partnership.



"AMBITIOUS . . . EVOKES THE STYLE OF SAMUEL BECKETT." —NEW YORK TIMES


"BRILLIANT." —SEATTLE BOOK REVIEW


"EXTRAORDINARY." —LIBRARY JOURNAL (STARRED REVIEW)


An unforgettable testament to the redemptive power of love, as experienced by one of the twentieth century's greatest performers.



When Stan Laurel is paired with Oliver Hardy, affectionately known as Babe, the history of comedy—not to mention their personal and professional lives—is altered forever. Yet Laurel's simple screen persona masks a complex human being, one who endures rejection and intense loss; who struggles to build a character from the dying stages of vaudeville to the seedy and often volatile movie studios of Los Angeles in the early years of cinema; and who is haunted by the figure of another comic genius, the brilliant, driven, and cruel Charlie Chaplin.



Eventually, Laurel becomes one of the greatest screen comedians the world has ever known: a man who enjoys both adoration and humiliation; who loves, and is loved in turn; who betrays, and is betrayed; who never seeks to cause pain to anyone else, yet leaves a trail of affairs and broken marriages in his wake. But Laurel's life is ultimately defined by one relationship of such astonishing tenderness and devotion that only death could sever this profound connection: his love for Babe.
1127124817
he: A Novel
John Connolly conjures the Golden Age of Hollywood in this moving, literary portrait of Laurel & Hardy—two men who found their true selves in a comedic partnership.



"AMBITIOUS . . . EVOKES THE STYLE OF SAMUEL BECKETT." —NEW YORK TIMES


"BRILLIANT." —SEATTLE BOOK REVIEW


"EXTRAORDINARY." —LIBRARY JOURNAL (STARRED REVIEW)


An unforgettable testament to the redemptive power of love, as experienced by one of the twentieth century's greatest performers.



When Stan Laurel is paired with Oliver Hardy, affectionately known as Babe, the history of comedy—not to mention their personal and professional lives—is altered forever. Yet Laurel's simple screen persona masks a complex human being, one who endures rejection and intense loss; who struggles to build a character from the dying stages of vaudeville to the seedy and often volatile movie studios of Los Angeles in the early years of cinema; and who is haunted by the figure of another comic genius, the brilliant, driven, and cruel Charlie Chaplin.



Eventually, Laurel becomes one of the greatest screen comedians the world has ever known: a man who enjoys both adoration and humiliation; who loves, and is loved in turn; who betrays, and is betrayed; who never seeks to cause pain to anyone else, yet leaves a trail of affairs and broken marriages in his wake. But Laurel's life is ultimately defined by one relationship of such astonishing tenderness and devotion that only death could sever this profound connection: his love for Babe.
17.99 In Stock
he: A Novel

he: A Novel

by John Connolly
he: A Novel

he: A Novel

by John Connolly

Paperback

$17.99 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    In stock. Ships in 1-2 days.
  • PICK UP IN STORE

    Your local store may have stock of this item.

Related collections and offers


Overview

John Connolly conjures the Golden Age of Hollywood in this moving, literary portrait of Laurel & Hardy—two men who found their true selves in a comedic partnership.



"AMBITIOUS . . . EVOKES THE STYLE OF SAMUEL BECKETT." —NEW YORK TIMES


"BRILLIANT." —SEATTLE BOOK REVIEW


"EXTRAORDINARY." —LIBRARY JOURNAL (STARRED REVIEW)


An unforgettable testament to the redemptive power of love, as experienced by one of the twentieth century's greatest performers.



When Stan Laurel is paired with Oliver Hardy, affectionately known as Babe, the history of comedy—not to mention their personal and professional lives—is altered forever. Yet Laurel's simple screen persona masks a complex human being, one who endures rejection and intense loss; who struggles to build a character from the dying stages of vaudeville to the seedy and often volatile movie studios of Los Angeles in the early years of cinema; and who is haunted by the figure of another comic genius, the brilliant, driven, and cruel Charlie Chaplin.



Eventually, Laurel becomes one of the greatest screen comedians the world has ever known: a man who enjoys both adoration and humiliation; who loves, and is loved in turn; who betrays, and is betrayed; who never seeks to cause pain to anyone else, yet leaves a trail of affairs and broken marriages in his wake. But Laurel's life is ultimately defined by one relationship of such astonishing tenderness and devotion that only death could sever this profound connection: his love for Babe.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781473663664
Publisher: Hodder
Publication date: 09/02/2025
Pages: 464
Product dimensions: 5.10(w) x 7.70(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

About The Author
John Connolly is author of the Charlie Parker mysteries, The Book of Lost Things, the Samuel Johnson novels for young adults and, with his partner, Jennifer Ridyard, co-author of the Chronicles of the Invaders. John Connolly's debut - EVERY DEAD THING - introduced the character of Private Investigator Charlie Parker, and swiftly launched him right into the front rank of thriller writers. All his subsequent novels have been Sunday Times bestsellers. He was the winner of the 2016 CWA Short Story Dagger for On the Anatomization of an Unknown Man (1637) by Frans Mier from NIGHT MUSIC: Nocturnes Vol 2.

In 2007 he was awarded the Irish Post Award for Literature. He was the first non-American writer to win the US Shamus award and the first Irish writer to win an Edgar award. BOOKS TO DIE FOR, which he edited with Declan Burke, was the winner of the 2013 Anthony, Agatha and Macavity awards for Best Non-Fiction work.

Hometown:

Dublin, Ireland

Date of Birth:

May 31, 1968

Place of Birth:

Dublin, Ireland

Education:

B.A. in English, Trinity College Dublin, 1992; M.A. in Journalism, Dublin City University, 1993
From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews