Going to America

Description

On the face of it, a touching story about a 75-year old actor taking his young granddaughter on the trip of her lifetime. Together they explore the southern states of America, from New Orleans to the theme parks of Orlando, Florida.

But the old actor is distracted by troublesome memories – of his late wife, his lost youth, an old love, and the fame he once took for granted. It does not help that he is a stubborn refusenik of the new digital age and in denial of any decline in his former intellectual and physical powers. His beloved grand-daughter meantime is becoming daily less enthralled by the historic wonders of the Old South – and retreats into the familiar world of her iPhone. The holiday is not going well – even before a dramatic Southern storm grounds all air flights, leaving the two of them completely stranded.

Part comedy, part romance, part great adventure. A meditation on age, loss, and love. And about time remembered and time regained.

Robin Duval was born in Liverpool. He was educated at King Edward's School Birmingham, at University College London and at the University of Michigan on a Fulbright Scholarship. The greater part of his career has been spent in the film and television business as a writer, producer and executive. From 1999 to 2004 he was Director of the British Board of Film Classification. He lives in West London with his wife and combines writing books and articles with music and travel. He received a CBE in 2005. His previous thrillers, Bear in the Woods, Below the Thunder and No Single Spies were all published with Matador.