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ARCADE
In this monumental historical novel of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century, Lev Arkady survives the murder of his entire family in the closing days of World War II. Rescued by the ultimate showman and huckster, Old Amos, a character as memorable as Falstaff, Lev survives by becoming the ultimate chameleon.
Penny Fullerton lives the life of a 1950s Los Angeles teenager, experiencing the early death of her parents, sexual awakenings, and young heartbreak. She and Lev meet for one glorious evening in Vienna. They will not see each other again for twenty-seven years.
Meanwhile, Lev befriends Karol Wotyla, who will eventually succeed to the Papal throne. He becomes an international showman. When his life is endangered due to his involvement with anti-Communist forces, he is catapulted to England, where he becomes an “American” star of 1960s pirate radio. Later, he participates at the dawn of revolutions that will topple Communism. Penny achieves unexpected success in her own right, rising to the top of a small startup company—FedEx.
When they finally meet again, Penny is a widow. Lev has never married. The magic between them ignites anew. They share a dramatic, life-threatening adventure in the Caucasus, and ultimately, a highly satisfying climax when they realize that the meaning of life is getting over fear and making the world a better place for having lived in it.
ARCADE - HOW THIS BOOK CAME TO BE
Arcade certainly ranks as one of my favorite works! It had a dual inspiration: my 50th High School Reunion, for which I wrote the “What Ever Happened to the Heiwans – Class of Winter ’59? history; and my son Jeff’s 40th birthday party at Dave & Buster’s in San Diego. A lot of my life’s personal recollections and experiences found their way into Arcade. Although the book covered a lot of ground and dealt with a both taboos and historically accurate subjects, it was truly a labor of love.
It is a long book, but in the end I believe it is a satisfying and rewarding read. Writing Arcade reminded me that the magic a writer creates originated in the days of the prehistoric cave dwellers, when men and women sat around a fire in a cave at night, and one of the group asked an elder, or a high-risen personage, “Tell us a story.”
Although the actual writing time was no more than eight months, it was spread over three years, during which time I wrote Against All Odds, which became one of my best-selling novels; started a biographical novel about Idi Amin from his own point of view (Monster); started The Good Brother, the story of Hermann Göring’s younger brother Albert, who saved more Jews than Schindler; and commenced writing Maestro, a fictionalized biography of Wilhelm Fürtwängler, one of the world’s greatest musical conductors, who eschewed Nazism and saved hundreds of Jews from Hitler’s ovens, but who remained in Germany as conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic during World War II. Any or all of these “starts” may still be written in the future.
But Arcade always kept pushing on me to finish the book, and, ultimately, I did. Like Billy Jenkins, another of my favorite works, Arcade was never a spectacular seller, although it has been a steady-selling, well-reviewed one since it was written.
ARCADE-AMAZON COMMENTS
These are genuine reviews from Amazon.com. Names and email addresses have been deleted to protect the privacy rights of those who were kind enough to write in, but feel free to visit Amazon.com to see the originals of these reviews. Thank you. – Hugh
***** I'm making this a gift for the holidays! I love this book! I love getting lost in a story and love when it has historical elements in it! This story did it for me, and I'm gifting this book for the holidays! Hugo Gerstl is a gifted writer and no doubt on my mind you will thoroughly enjoy this story! – December 2015
***** Splendid! I’m making this a gift for the holidays. I love this book! I love getting lost in a story and love when it has historical elements in it! This story did it for me, and I'm gifting this book for the holidays! Hugo Gerstl is a gifted writer and no doubt on my mind you will thoroughly enjoy this story! – December 2015
***** The style is easy to read being fluid and not overly full of detailed description. This is a novel of vast scope in its subject matter. Epic almost in the time span and issues it addresses. "Arcade" still maintains the human, personal touch with its characters and their role in the issues dealt with. It covers from WW2 to near present, it covers a few continents. The style is easy to read being fluid and not overly full of detailed description. There most certainly enough to fill the read's mind with the scene, the people and the emotions, this story develops. It is well worth the read and contemplation of its subject matter, its characters and its story. – September 2015
***** Fantastic! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and stayed up late just to read another chapter or two to see where the story would go next. The historical elements were fascinating and very well described and integrated into the story. With elements of suspense, hope, love, surprise, adventure, and imagination, the book was very enjoyable and it's one I'll pass along and recommend to friends and family. – November 2015
***** An Amazing Book. This is an engaging story that you don't want to put down before the end of the story to find out what happens in the end. The book is fascinating in different areas of the story. I also learned a lot about history and geographical points which highlight the story. An Amazing Book – November 2015
