Robert Pattinson is best known for starring in the Twilight series, for which he earned mega-millions. After the Twilight franchise wrapped, he starred in the upcoming Gucci commercial opposite Kate Winslet, and currently has various filming projects in the works. He has also written a book, which he discusses with Simon Cowell on this week’s episode of the “It’s About Time” podcast.
The Book
The book, entitled True Love Never Dies, is out in paperback now, and it’s interesting for various reasons. The first being that it’s the first book that he’s written; he’s also written a screenplay for a film adaption of the same name, which will star opposite Kate Winslet and is set for release in 2020. And finally, there’s the fact that it was released on Valentine’s Day, which makes it relevant to the theme of the week: love.
Let’s dive in.
The Theme Song
Before we begin, let’s discuss the song choice for the book’s trailer. The book opens with a dedication to his late mother, and he closes each chapter with a dedication to her as well. So when we think about the theme song for this particular book, we automatically think about his late mother.
It’s an acoustic version of True Love Never Dies by Jeeg and released in May 2019. You can listen to it here.
The Jacket
For those of you who watch TV, you’ll know that he’s always dressed impeccably. And for the book, he chose a beautifully tailored black jacket with white stripes on the collar and cuffs. It’s a classic look that he often wears, and it suits the book perfectly.
Let’s take a look at the jacket itself. We get a feel for the quality of the materials used and the craftsmanship that went into it from an illustration on the inside flap. You’ll see a beautiful photo of him wearing the jacket and looking every bit the English gentleman.
The Publishing House
This is the first time that we’ve ever seen a publishing house in the Middle Kingdom. Usually, if there’s a book that catches Simon’s eye, it’s published by one of the international houses – especially in English – but now that China has opened up to international publishers, we’re starting to see native Chinese houses put out books that are of interest to a global audience. This could be a good thing for British authors, as we might see more Chinese translations of our books, but it could also mean that they’ll snatch the limelight from us in the process. We’ll have to see.
The Trailer
Here’s the trailer for the book, which you can watch above.
As with all of his work, there’s a distinct British influence to it. Take a look at the opening scene, which takes place in a London library. The lighting is perfect, as is the spot-on British accent that he delivers. There’s also very strong music in the background, which adds to the atmosphere. As with all of his work, it’s beautifully directed. You’ll see scenes from different locations, including Venice, where he stars in a Gucci ad. And there’s an extended appearance by Kate Winslet, who he co-stars with in the upcoming movie adaptation of The Gucci Book. This trailer is a glimpse of what’s to come.
The Jacket And The Book
In keeping with the theme of this particular book, let’s take a closer look at the jacket. It’s lined in a soft purple that brings a touch of color and life to the otherwise monochromatic outerwear. It’s a simple but elegant look that he wears throughout the book. The cut of the jacket is superb, and it perfectly frames the elegant Englishman. When we think about the theme song, the quality of the jacket and the book as a whole certainly deserve a moment of reflection. On the other side of the pond, people might say that he chose the jacket because it’s the uniform of the English gentleman. But in reality, he chose it because it’s the perfect match for the story that he’s told. The white stripes on the black are subtle but add to the overall look. It’s a classic combination – as we’ve come to expect from the Englishman himself.
The Book And The Movie
The book and the movie are two very different things, as you’d expect. The former is a literary work whereas the latter is an adaptation of the same name. The movie opens with a dedication to his mother, as with all of his work, and it then proceeds to tell the story of a retired English gentleman who decides to settle in Venice, where he hopes to live a life of leisure. Only, his plans go awry when the woman he loves since childhood falls in love with another man, whom he then has to kill in self-defense. After which, he heads to China to settle some scores. While there, he discovers that his past is catching up with him and he ends up in mortal combat with the man he’s come to see as his archenemy. The Englishman wins in the end, but it’s a race against time until then.
This is a rather dark turn of events, which is perhaps why the novel has never been adapted for the big screen. That, and perhaps the fact that it wasn’t initially published in English. Either way, it’s certainly a story that will stay with you long after you put the book down. And it’s rather fitting that it was released on Valentine’s Day – especially since the movie is set for release on February 14, 2020.
About The Author
For those of you who love literary fiction – or just want to know more about the book – here’s a little about the author. He was born in London to a family of lawyers, and he went to Eton College. He then went on to read law at Oxford, and after graduation, he spent a year working in Ghana with the International Youth Authority. In 1991, he began his legal career in London as a trainee. He also did some voluntary work for the homeless, and from 1993-1996, he was a commissioner for the London Probation Service.
He then went into private practice as a partner with Allen & Allen. One of his clients there was the Aga Khan, who is credited with introducing him to the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, which he won in 2016. The following year, he set up a legal practice, mainly specializing in intellectual property, and he currently has offices in London and Venice, as well as a smaller one in Shanghai.
He’s also a well-known and much-loved figure in the English countryside, where he spends a lot of his time when he’s not working. He has a large number of close friends there, and he’s known for his exquisite taste in food and drink. He’s also a very keen hunter and fisherman, and he enjoys traveling abroad. In 2019, he visited Ghana to look into the possibility of establishing a charitable foundation, which he hopes to do once his current projects are complete. Finally, he’s got a thing for white stripes – particularly when they’re combined with black – so it’s no surprise that he would’ve chosen to adorn the cover of this particular book in a similar manner.