Anthony Marra's Mercury Pictures Presents has garnered praise for its intricate storytelling and rich historical detail. Readers appreciate the well-drawn characters and the vivid depiction of Hollywood during World War II. However, some found the plot slow at times and the narrative occasionally convoluted. Overall, it's a compelling read with a few pacing issues.

A reader who enjoys intricate historical novels with rich character development and dark humor would appreciate Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra. Comparable to Markus Zusak's The Book Thief and Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See, this book appeals to fans of World War II fiction and storytelling that reveals the resilience of the human spirit.

Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra is a tragi-comic historical novel that follows Maria Lagana, an Italian immigrant in World War II-era Hollywood, who becomes an associate producer at Mercury Pictures. The story explores her struggles with professional frustration, her complex relationship with Europe and America, and the impact of political turmoil on her life and art. The novel includes references to racist and anti-gay stereotypes, racial slurs, and suicide.

Melancholic / Dark / Bittersweet / Contemplative

**Maria Lagana**  
A career-driven woman who moves from Italy to the United States, navigating professional challenges and personal relationships while working for Mercury Pictures.

**Nino Picone/Vincent Cortese**  
An Italian immigrant and photographer with a complex personal history intertwined with Maria's, reflecting on themes of guilt and identity.

**Anna Weber**  
A talented miniaturist who faces difficult moral choices while forging her career in a male-dominated profession and dealing with personal loss.

**Artie Feldman**  
A flamboyant Hollywood showman struggling to balance his ambitions with ethical choices, highlighted by his role at Mercury Pictures.

**Eddie Lu**  
A first-generation Chinese American actor in Hollywood facing ethnic prejudice and professional challenges, striving to maintain personal and artistic integrity.

Anthony Marra

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore Mercury Pictures Presents and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Mercury Pictures Presents Summary and Study Guide

Background

Mercury Pictures Presents Background

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Section 1: “Sunny Siberia” - Part 1, Section 2: “The Bigwig”

Part 1, Sections 1-2

Mercury Pictures Presents Part 1, Sections 1-2 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Section 3: “The Posthumous Life of Vincent Cortese” - Part 1, Section 4: “Off Sunset”

Part 1, Sections 3-4

Mercury Pictures Presents Part 1, Sections 3-4 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Section 1: "The People vs. Art Feldman" - Part 2, Section 2: “Blackout”

Part 2, Sections 1-2

Mercury Pictures Presents Part 2, Sections 1-2 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Section 3: “The False Front” - Part 2, Section 4: “German Village”

Part 2, Sections 3-4

Mercury Pictures Presents Part 2, Sections 3-4 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Section 5: “Mercury in Retrograde” - Part 2, Section 6: “San Lorenzo”

Part 2, Sections 5-6

Mercury Pictures Presents Part 2, Section 5: “Mercury in Retrograde” Summary & Analysis

Mercury Pictures Presents

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read Mercury Pictures Presents?

Reading Age

Book Details