Skip to Main Content

The American No

Stories

See More Retailers

About The Book

Eight masterful stories of love and loss, drama and glamour, and hope and rejection from the acclaimed actor and “supremely gifted writer” (The Sunday Times, London) Rupert Everett.

In his first, glorious collection of stories, Rupert Everett takes us on exhilarating journeys with a cast of extraordinary characters. From Oscar Wilde’s last night in Paris to the ferociously unforgiving world of a Los Angeles talent agency and beyond, these stories are evocative, moving, and tender. Brilliantly witty, elegiac, and drawing from the wealth of film and TV ideas Everett has worked on over the course of his illustrious career, The American No will delight and surprise his many fans.

About The Author

Rupert Everett

Rupert Everett shot to fame with the film Another Country in 1984 and has been a hugely successful actor and writer for many years. His films include My Best Friend’s Wedding, Shakespeare in Love, The Madness of King George, Napoleon, and much more. He is the author of two novels, three works of nonfiction, and a collection of short stories. He lives in London and New York.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Atria Books (February 11, 2025)
  • Length: 320 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781668076477

Raves and Reviews

“Having surfed the ebbs and flows of showbiz for nearly five decades, Everett embraces how, for both actors and writers, rejection is part of the job.... With ingenuity, he’s turned his own rejections into inspiration with his most recent book of short stories, The American No, breathing new life into a handful of rejected star-vehicle pitches that lived on in his head.” —Vanity Fair

“This is a storyteller unafraid to spike his black comedy with sudden and strongly brewed emotion... Individually, the stories are exhilarating; together, they add up to an intriguing self-portrait of an artist at work, presenting us with the multiple facets of an undaunted imagination, recut, repolished and ready to shine in the dark.” —The Guardian

“In this collection of stories, Everett…tackles topics ranging from Oscar Wilde’s final night in Paris to the no-holds-barred world of Hollywood talent agencies, and in doing so creates engrossing and delightful worlds in which readers can get lost.” —Town & Country

“[E]legiac. . . a remarkably coherent aesthetic vision.” —The Irish Times

“Everett has a flair for historical fiction...What were once ideas for screenplays have become stories - and are all the better for the years of marinating. There is some real depth and richness here, as well as a sharp critique of the mores of La-La Land.” —Erica Wagner, Tatler

“[Everett's] resilient energy, sharp-eyed intelligence and keen sense of the ridiculous, as well as his capacity for short-term enjoyment of life's sensual pleasures, infuse his writing with a warm glow...the sheer force of his personality is irresistible and there isn't a dull moment.”The Telegraph

“Everett’s writing is dynamic and glib, knowing and innocent, atmospheric and frothy. There is bleakness and buoyancy in the imagined worlds he conjures. If these stories were nixed by movie execs, this collection shows they are worthy of a second look. Coming soon to a theater or streaming service? A resounding yes, please!” — Booklist

“Richly imagined and extraordinarily affecting... Everett is a terrific storyteller.” —The Sunday Times

“With these astute character-driven tales, the author proves to be a storyteller of many talents. Everett’s fans have cause to celebrate.” —Publishers Weekly

Resources and Downloads

High Resolution Images