Description

From iconic journalist Gay Talese comes an extraordinary collection of his finest writings on New York City.

“Alongside Joan Didion, Norman Mailer, Tom Wolfe and others, Gay Talese has been celebrated as a master of the intimate, novel-like style known as New Journalism.” —Wall Street Journal

“They arrive quietly—unseen, like the stray cats, tiny ants, the building doorman with three bullets lodged in his head, and many other strange marvels that populate this timeless city.” —from Talese’s 1960 Esquire piece, “New York Is a City of Things Unnoticed”

For more than sixty years, Gay Talese has chronicled the many faces of New York. His portraits shine a light on daring bridge engineers, vanishing mafiosi, fearless Vogue editors, and understated doormen who’ve witnessed more than they’ll ever reveal. His scenes unfold in spaces as varied as George Plimpton’s elegant star-studded gatherings, the bustling newsroom of a flourishing New York Times, and a vibrant recording studio during Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga’s memorable first joint session.

With his trademark wit, style, and keen observation, Talese’s New York journalism reveals the vibrant heartbeat of the city—illuminating its charm, eccentricity, and forgotten corners. Whether exploring the nighttime world of street cats and their subtle hierarchies, capturing the awe and peril behind the construction of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, or delving into the hidden layers of tragedy at the site of a bomb-shattered apartment building, Talese writes with the precision of a journalist and the finesse of an artist. These fourteen remarkable pieces, spanning from the 1950s to the present day, form an irreplaceable portrait of New York City, reflecting both how it evolved and how it fundamentally remains unchanged. Throughout, Gay Talese demonstrates the timeless vision and lasting relevance that have made him one of journalism’s most enduring talents.