A gripping literary debut in the tradition of John Fowles and Patricia Highsmith.
In Michael Lear's estimation, James Hilldyard is a Master of the British novel. Calling on this contemporary genius at home on the Italian Amalfi coast, Michael is disappointed not to acquire permission for the TV profile he wants to produce, but is bafflingly offered a job as the great man's literary secretary instead.
This break from his rackety London media life is actually just what Michael needs - until a captivating actress arrives in Italy, followed by a pack of Hollywood hounds sniffing at her heels, all trying to secure the film fights in Hilldyard's as yet unpublished novel. It is unpublished not just because Hilldyard believes 'adaptation of any decent novel is vandalism' but because he cannot face the terrible secret about himself that it contains.
'Sex And Genius' is set on that high place where creative genius and the Hollywood System carry out their big gun fights. Williams knows the territory well and he plays out his drama there with enormous panache.
