New York City in Fiction
The US Open, one of the oldest tennis tournaments in the world, kicks off on August 25. Flushing Meadows is the site of this event, and it's one of the many things that make the Big Apple exciting. You only need to turn to books to see why. A total of four hundred seventy seven novels set in New York City.
F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" (1925) tops the list. It depicts the Jazz Age, where New York is the place to be. At the center of music and dance is Jay Gatsby, an enigmatic figure who will be the talk of conversations. Some see him as a representation of the city itself, but this is debatable. Edith Wharton's "The Age of Innocence" (1920) gives a better picture of the metropolis, as the author describes the upper class society during the 1870s and the unspoken rules they must live by. This is one aspect of the city. There are other features, which are found in other works.
Here are some of them:
"Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1958) by Truman Capote. Fred, a tenant in an apartment in Manhattan's Upper East Side, befriends Holly Golightly, his neighbor. Holly is young, but she has lots to tell. If only Fred knows. It's Capote's jaded description of New York, as seen through the eyes of his two lead characters. But readers may wonder if there's more.
"The Catcher in the Rye" (1951) by J.D. Salinger. Holden Caulfield, a native of Agerstown, Pennsylvania, is full of teenage angst. An excursion to New York City is a life-changing experience. The worst as far as he is concerned. This is Salinger's only novel, one of the best pieces of work of the twentieth century. Some see a young man wanting more understanding, but others perceive it differently.
"The Talented Mr. Ripley" (1955) by Patricia Highsmith. Tom Ripley makes a living by scamming other people in the Big Apple, until Herbert Greenleaf makes an offer he can't refuse. The shipping magnate hires him to go to Itay and convince Dickie, his errant son, to come home. He happens to be an acquaintance he half remembers. A few days after his arrival in Mongibello, he learns that the continent is better than New York. The reason is pretty obvious.
"Enemies, A Love Story" (1972) by Isaac Bashevis Singer. Herman Broder, a Holocaust survivor, comes to New York City in 1949. Paranoia and desperation follow him, which is why he marries Yadwiga, his non-Jewish, Polish servant. He has an affair with Masha, another Holocaust survivor. Life turns complicated when Tamara, his first wife, founds him. New York reminds Herman of Europe during World War II.
"Midnight Cowboy" (1965) by James Leo Herlihy. Joe Buck dreams of making it big in New York. It's a sordid vision, where he wants to be a stud-for-hire. The young Texan's background reveals unusual circumstances which influences him. But the Big Apple is cruel to those who don't know her ways. Joe learns this the hard way, until he befriends Rico "Ratso" Rizzo. He's a small-time con man who shows Joe the way. Alas, luck is not on their side.
Tell us your favorite novel set in New York City.
