All the Stars in the Heavens by
Adriana Trigiani is set in Hollywood during the 1930s. The story begins with an Italian novice, Alda who before she could take her final orders at a convent in San Francisco, is sent to Los Angeles. It had been decided by the Mother Superior that she should not continue her path, but instead she had been chosen to work as a secretary to one of Hollywood's Golden Age actresses,
Loretta Young. The fictional story continues with Loretta Young's romantic friendship with
Spencer Tracy and affair with the handsome
Clark Gable, both of whom were married.
Loretta Young finally admitted the affair shortly before her death. Their daughter was 31 before she knew the truth about her parentage (she was led to believe she was adopted) and stories have since surfaced that rather than a romantic affair,
Clark Gable had raped Loretta Young. Hollywood was so different then than it is now where it seems that "stars" proudly flaunt their children before marriage.
David Niven was also mentioned as a friend of Loretta Young and her family. I remember reading David Niven's humorous memoirs "The Moon's a Balloon."
