The Day of the Locust is a 1939 novel by Nathanael West set in Hollywood, California during the Great Depression. The novel follows the lives of a diverse group of characters, all of whom are struggling to make a living and find their place in the cutthroat world of show business.
The main character, Tod Hackett, is an aspiring artist who has come to Hollywood to work as a set designer. As he navigates the superficial and often cruel world of the film industry, he becomes disillusioned and bitter, and begins to see the dark underbelly of the Hollywood dream.
Other characters include Faye Greener, a young woman who becomes Tod's love interest; Homer Simpson, a washed-up actor clinging to the remnants of his former fame; and Abe Kusich, a grotesque little man who becomes a symbol of the desperation and hopelessness that plagues many of the book's characters.
The Day of the Locust is a bleak and cynical portrayal of Hollywood and the people who inhabit it, and is considered a classic of American literature. It is known for its vivid descriptions, sharp social commentary, and dark, satirical tone.