| Civilization, and Its Part in My Downfall | |
| Author: | Paul Quarrington |
| Country: | Canada |
| Language: | English |
| Genre: | Novel |
| Publisher: | Random House Canada |
| Pub Date: | 1994 |
| Media Type: | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages: | 309 pp |
| Preceded By: | Logan in Overtime |
| Followed By: | The Spirit Cabinet |
Civilization, and Its Part in My Downfall is a novel by Canadian writer Paul Quarrington, published in 1994 by Random House Canada.[1]
Set during the early days of the film industry in Hollywood, the novel centres on Thom Moss, a onetime silent film star who is now in prison and is writing his personal account of his rise and fall.[2] Characters who play a role in his story include J.D.D. Jensen, a Western fiction author who first introduces him to the film industry; Caspar Willison, a D. W. Griffith-like film director who first makes Moss a star but ultimately destroys him by refusing to give him a role in the planned epic film Civilization; Jefferson Foote, Willison's one-armed screenwriter and Moss's best friend in the industry; and Thespa Doone, Moss's frequent costar and love interest.[3]
Although favourably reviewed by critics, the novel sold poorly, which pushed Quarrington to concentrate more actively on film and television writing.[4]