Vendor
	Mohrbooks Literary Agency Maren Wiederhold
Categories
Historical adventure fiction

THE GREAT MANN

Kyra Davis Lurie

A Novel

In this diverse retelling of The Great Gatsby, set among the Black elite of postwar L.A., a young veteran is drawn into a world of tantalizing possibilitiesand explosive tensions.

In 1945, Charlie Trammell steps into the vibrant tapestry of Los Angeles, lured by his cousin Marguerite's invitation to the esteemed West Adams Heights, L.A.'s newly rechristened "Sugar Hill." Among the opulence of Black success intertwined with old-money white privilege, Charlie finds himself captivated by the allure of his new surroundings. Settling into actress Louise Beaver's boarding house, Charlie discovers a world brimming with opportunity, from promising career prospects at a Black-owned insurance firm to the promise of romance. But none of the young, Black elites dazzle quite like James "Reaper" Mann. Reaper's extravagant parties, attended by luminaries like Lena Horne and Hattie McDaniel, draw him deeper into a milieu of wealth and excess. As Charlie's bond with Reaper deepens, he uncovers disturbing truths about Marguerite's marriage and the couple's facade of prosperity. Meanwhile, tension in the neighborhood simmers as white neighbors, frustrated by their own dwindling fortunes, ignite a landmark court case that exposes racial covenants, threatening the community's well-being. As Charlie navigates a landscape rife with ambition, betrayal, and societal turmoil, he soon finds himself beside Reaper, facing a pivotal decision that could end in tragedy. Told from the unique perspective of a young man who has just returned from war, The Great Mann, weaves a compelling narrative of wealth and class, illuminating the complexities of Black identity and education in post-war America. Kyra Davis Lurie is a New York Times bestselling author and screenwriter. Her novels have been published in numerous languages, including French, Spanish, Portuguese/Brazil. Kyra was born and raised in California and currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their utterly perfect dog, Potus.

Available products
Book Published 2025-06-10 by Crown

Comments

Kyra Davis Lurie sprinkles Hollywood fairy dust over a classic tale of careless people and boats beating against the tide. Shining a spotlight on an aspect of African American history few know, much less believe, ever existed.

Davis Lurie's The Great Mann takes The Great Gatsby and re-envisions it with a shiny new twist. Two thumbs up aren't enough. Brava!

A fresh, exhilarating take on The Great Gatsby, The Great Mann is a pitch-perfect reinvention of a story you thought you already knew. Davie Lurie expertly dissects class, wealth, race, fame, and more, and in doing so, creates a classic of her own.

In a fascinating reimagining of Fitzgerald's most influential work, Davis Lurie reintroduces a little-known era of Hollywood's past via colorful and captivating characters, real and imagined. The Great Mann is an entertaining and poignant story of love, rivalry, friendship, ambition, and a nuanced exploration of the pursuit of the American dream decades before the civil rights era took hold.

In this rich, bittersweet novel, Kyra Davis Lurie lights up the Golden Age of Hollywood in full, glorious color. The Great Mann will steal your heart.

Davis Lurie has pulled off a masterpiece in this profound and deeply human retelling of a time and place in 1940s Los Angeles where the Black elite explored life, love, art, and identity. The Great Mann is an instant classic, a book that opens our eyes to a glittering and significant part of American history.

I could not put this book down. Kyra Davis Lurie takes readers on a journey that blends historical facts and fiction so well that you'll have difficulty deciding what's real. This is an unforgettable read that will challenge, move, and enlighten you.

The Great Mann is the perfect companion to The Great Gatsby, wrapping real-life American history in a story that's as much hopeful as it is heartbreakingit's a must-read.

The Great Mann is wildly original and energetic, crammed with characters who stand out fully formed and memorable on their own. And at the same enthralling time, it exposes us to an overlooked piece of American history. It's the rare novel that entertains while also enlightening as well as challenging our perceptions of our own past.

The Great Mann is a power-filled reimaging of Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. This is a poignant novelof love, mystery, and a microcosm of the changes starting to take hold in mid-century America.