{{Short description|2012 bestselling novel by Jess Walter}} {{no plot|date=November 2020}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox book | italic title = <!--(see above)--> | name = Beautiful Ruins | image = Beautiful Ruins.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = First edition | author = Jess Walter | audio_read_by = | title_orig = | orig_lang_code = | title_working = | translator = | illustrator = | cover_artist = | country = | language = | series = | release_number = | subject = | genre = | set_in = | publisher = Harper | publisher2 = | pub_date = 2012 | english_pub_date = | published = | media_type = | pages = | awards = | isbn = | isbn_note = | oclc = | dewey = | congress = | preceded_by = | followed_by = | native_wikisource = | wikisource = | notes = | exclude_cover = | website = }}
'''''Beautiful Ruins''''' is a 2012 bestselling novel by Jess Walter. It is his sixth novel.<ref name = Gwinn/> The novel is a social satire critiquing Hollywood culture.<ref name = Gwinn>{{Cite web| last = Gwinn| first = Mary Ann| title = 'Beautiful Ruins': Jess Walter's dark, clever look at Hollywood entertainment factory| work = The Seattle Times| date = 24 June 2012| accessdate = 2015-08-04| url = http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/books/beautiful-ruins-jess-walters-dark-clever-look-at-hollywood-entertainment-factory/}}</ref> Though not the explicit focus of the novel, receiving very little direct appearances in the novel, the characters' lives revolve around Elizabeth Taylor and her role in the movie ''Cleopatra'', and the subsequent love affair between Taylor and Richard Burton.<ref name = Maslin/>
==Style and themes== As ''Seattle Times'' critic Mary Gwinn notes, the novel is a social satire which explores human nature and satirizing the Hollywood culture that is at the center of the novel.<ref name = Gwinn/> She writes "Beneath Walter's black comic's mask beats the brain of an ethical philosopher and the heart of a romantic. Not everyone in "Beautiful Ruins" gets what they want. But they do get what they need."<ref name = Gwinn/>
In part, the novel is an epistolary novel, relying heavily on excerpts of letters, screenplays and novels being written by the characters, in order to demonstrate different parts of their characters, and highlight the absurdity of their ideas.<ref name = Maslin>{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| last = Maslin| first = Janet| title = 'Beautiful Ruins' by Jess Walter| work = The New York Times| accessdate = 2015-08-04| date = 2012-06-07| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/08/books/beautiful-ruins-by-jess-walter.html}}</ref> Similarly, the novel includes significant leaps of time and geography, with much of the early parts of the novel set in an Italian coastal hotel, but later parts are set in Hollywood; Edinburgh; Seattle; Florence, Italy; Portland, Ore.; Truckee, Calif.; and Sandpoint, Idaho.<ref name = Maslin/> Critic Janet Maslin describes the novel as "more intuitive than linear, a believer in capricious destiny with a fine, freewheeling sense of humor. The deeply romantic heart of 'Beautiful Ruins' is better expressed by constant circling than it would by any head-on approach."<ref name = Maslin/>
==Critical reception== ''Washington Post'' reviewer Allegra Goodman wrote, "Adept at mixing flavors and textures, Walter whips together dying beauty, enduring love, war-shadowed Italy, haunting landscapes, veiled identity."<ref name = goodman/> Goodman compared the novel to ''The English Patient'', noting its relatively strong cross cultural, cross time aspects.<ref name = goodman>{{Cite news| issn = 0190-8286| last = Goodman| first = Allegra | title = 'Beautiful Ruins' by Jess Walter| work = The Washington Post: Book World | accessdate = 2015-08-04| date = 2012-06-18| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/book-world-beautiful-ruins-by-jess-walter/2012/06/18/gJQAYE4ImV_story.html}}</ref> ''Seattle Times'' reviewer Mary Gwinn applauded the wit of the novel's satire, noting how the novel is an "ambitious new novel" which "creates an ensemble of memorable characters and runs them through the Hollywood entertainment mill."<ref name = Gwinn/>
==Film adaptation== In April 2013, Cross Creek Pictures and Smuggler Films announced a feature film adaptation in the works. Todd Field and Jess Walter were confirmed to be writing the screenplay, with Field set to direct.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Todd Field To Direct Movie Adaptation Of Jess Walter's Bestseller 'Beautiful Ruins'| work = Deadline| accessdate = 2015-11-30| date = 2013-04-08| url = https://deadline.com/2013/04/beautiful-ruins-movie-todd-field-director-470059/}}</ref> In November of that year, it was announced Imogen Poots was attached, with filming scheduled to begin in Italy in May 2014.<ref>{{Cite web| last = Kroll| first = Justin| title = Imogen Poots to Star in Todd Field's 'Beautiful Ruins' (EXCLUSIVE)| work = Variety| accessdate = 2015-11-30| date = 2013-11-19| url = https://variety.com/2013/film/news/imogen-poots-todd-field-beautiful-ruins-1200821017/}}</ref> In September 2016, it was reported that Sam Mendes signed on to produce and possibly direct the film, with a new screenplay by Noah Harpster and Micah Fitzerman-Blue.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/2016/09/29/sam-mendes-beautiful-ruins-movie/|first=Joey|last=Nolfi|date=29 September 2016|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|title=Beautiful Ruins: Sam Mendes to produce adaptation, may direct}}</ref> However, in June 2020, Niki Caro was announced as director.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/mulan-director-niki-caro-helm-beautiful-ruins-amblin-partners-1301120/|title='Mulan' Director Niki Caro to Helm 'Beautiful Ruins' for Amblin Partners|first=Etan|last=Vlessing|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 30, 2020}}</ref>
== Audiobook == An audiobook version was released in 2012 by Harper Audio, read by Edoardo Ballerini.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://harpercollins.tumblr.com/post/58164097044/|title=Spotlight on a Bestseller: Jess Walter's Beautiful Ruins|language=en|first=Lelia|last=Mander|date=13 August 2013|publisher=HarperCollins}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== *{{cite news |title = FICTION: "Beautiful Ruins," by Jess Walter| first = Mark | last = Athitakis | work = The Star Tribune| date= June 16, 2012}} *{{Cite web| first = Jeff| last = Baker | title = 'Beautiful Ruins' review: A cannonball splash of irresistible fun| work = OregonLive.com| date = 23 June 2012 | accessdate = 2015-08-04| url = http://www.oregonlive.com/books/index.ssf/2012/06/beautiful_ruins_review_a_canno.html}} *{{Cite web| last = Greenblatt| first = Leah| title = Beautiful Ruins| work = Entertainment Weekly's EW.com| accessdate = 2015-08-04| url = https://www.ew.com/article/2012/06/13/beautiful-ruins-review-jess-walter}} *{{Cite web| title = Jess Walter - Beautiful Ruins - Book Review| work = BookPage.com| accessdate = 2015-08-04| url = http://bookpage.com/reviews/7453-jess-walter-beautiful-ruins}} *{{Cite web| first = Anne | last = Trubek| work = The Plain Dealer | title = Jess Walter writes a shining, imaginative tale in 'Beautiful Ruins'| date = 18 June 2012| accessdate = 2015-08-04| url = http://www.cleveland.com/books/index.ssf/2012/06/jess_walter_writes_a_shining_i.html}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2012 American novels Category:2012 English-language novels Category:American satirical novels Category:Hollywood novels Category:HarperCollins books Category:Novels by Jess Walter