'Riveting work' Patti Smith 'Vivid . . . it communicates a real power' Sunday Times 'A wild ride of a book' Metro Actor William Harding has been caught cheating on his rock star wife and the press have descended upon him. Amid the headlines and worldwide disdain towards him, he takes on the part in Henry IV. He must examine himself, and who he has become, under the brightest of lights and the keenest of eyes. 'A considered meditation on the evil of celebrity and the demanding yet restorative power of theatre' New Statesman 'An emotional ode to theatre as medicine for heartbreak, and an interesting meditation on fame' Radio Times 'A witty, wise heartfelt novel' Washington Post What saves him is the theatre: in particular, the challenge of performing Shakespeare in his Broadway debut under the leadership of a brilliant director. Searing, raw, and utterly transfixing, A Bright Ray of Darkness is a novel about shame and beauty and faith, and the moral power of art. ________________________ 'William is the star of this vivid drama from Ethan Hawke ... this is ultimately a book about the transcendent value of great art ... it communicates a real power.' Sunday Times 'Hawke has obeyed the adage 'write what you know', bringing the theatrical world, from first rehearsal to final performance, thrillingly to life.' Mail on Sunday