The Curse of Brilliance: Brooke Hayward’s Frayed Family Ties

Brooke Hayward’s best-selling 1977 memoir, Haywire , is a heart-wrenching detective story.

Her father was lauded Broadway producer and super-agent Leland Hayward , whose clients included Greta Garbo , Ernest Hemingway , Ginger Rogers , Judy Garland , and Gregory Peck .

Unlike many memoirists, Hayward relies on her own memories.

Brooke Hayward writes movingly about growing up with Jane and Peter Fonda , the children of her mother’s first husband, Henry Fonda .

The five children were all rebellious rabble rousers.

They caused constant trouble and hoopla: smoking, performing intricate plays, stalking Marlon Brando in Hollywood , setting fire to grasslands.

Brooke Hayward and Dennis Hopper's home in the hills above the Sunset Strip became the hippest spot for “New Hollywood” Everyone from Paul Newman to Jack Nicholson , the Hells Angels , The Byrds , The Monkees, and Andy Warhol partied and played there.

Overseeing it all was hostess Brooke , with her elegance, steely sophistication, masterful eye, and artist's soul.