Rudolph Valentino. At last he speaks.

In a 12-year acting career abruptly ended by his sudden death at the age of 31, this Italian immigrant managed to accomplish--without a single audible word--33 silent films that not only stunned a conservative nation and liberated the inhibitions of a chaste society, but rather defined just what would be roaring and carefree about the 1920s.

Six decades after perforated ulcers took the young life of the World's Greatest Lover, Valentino emerges from the Beyond to craft and guide the life of Dominick Veneziano--in his own image. The task quickly proves more complicated than Rudy can manage alone, and soon the controversial giants of caskets-past are deployed to advise young Dominick on the finer points and dodgings of being different. Finally, from silent lips never before betraying the truth, gushes forth the confessions of the on-and-off screen actor of the century.

VAL is an engaging tale of two lives--one present, and one, present again.

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Michael Scott Curnes is an award-winning North American fiction novelist living on Vancouver Island. VAL is his debut published novel . Curnes is a member of The Writer's Union of Canada.