Abandoned as a boy in Kansas, Fatty Arbuckle found adulation in Hollywood in the early days of cinema. During his heyday he was more popular than Charlie Chaplin and became the first screen actor to make a million dollars a year. But in 1921 Fatty was accused of the rape and murder of an actress he had met in San Francisco. Although he was later acquitted, the virulent press speculation Arbuckle received destroyed his career. "I, Fatty" imagines Arbuckle taking centre stage to recount his life story - from humble beginnings to dramatic downfall, and the result is an utterly compelling, highly original and beautifully written novel which deserves the widest possible audience.

"'I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!' Johnny Depp 'Jerry Stahl is the American hipster bard' James Ellroy 'Absolutely excellent' Loaded"

Jerry Stahl is the author of the bestselling memoir Permanent Midnight, which was made into a movie starring Ben Stiller, and the novels Perv - A Love Story and Plainclothes Naked. He has written for Esquire, Playboy and extensively for film and television, including Moonlighting and Twin Peaks.