California Gold : 9781508510048

Vincent and Charles, two British twenty-one-year-olds, have been saving up and hatching a plan for years. It's simple: land in Manhattan and spend the weekend partying it up, then head out to find the real America on their way to make it big in Los Angeles.

But you know what they say about plans...

Set in 1993, this poignant coming-of-age story captures both the ecstasy and the heartache of two youths dazzled by the illusions of Hollywood, only to come face-to-face with the reality of their own recklessness.

After their weekend expands into a weeklong exercise in excess, a chance encounter with some Italian mobsters finally breaks the spell, setting them on their way to New Orleans, Houston and eventually Las Vegas. As disillusionment sets in, they discover that the real America doesn't quite live up to their expectations. Their big adventure climaxes in a final two-day race to get to Los Angeles...via hitchhiking.

Freedom, folly, and friendship ultimately lie at the core of this lively journey through the heartland of America.