The Colossus of New York

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In a dazzlingly original work of nonfiction, award-winning novelist Colson Whitehead re-creates the exuberance, chaos, promise, and heartbreak of New York. This literary love song will enchant anyone who has lived in or spent time in America’s greatest city. A masterful evocation of the city that never sleeps, it captures both inner and outer landscapes through a series of vignettes, meditations, and personal memories. Whitehead conveys with uncanny immediacy the feelings of longtime residents and newcomers dreaming of making it their home; those who have conquered its challenges and those who struggle against its cruelties. His style is multilayered and multifarious, switching from third to first to second person, weaving individual voices into a jazzy composition that reflects our experience of the city. There are humorous riffs on arriving in New York for the first time, lyrical meditations on unexpected rain showers, and wry observations on the battle of commuting. The plaintive notes of the lonely resonate alongside moments when the city seems to invite you to become one with its rhythms. This remarkable portrait of life in the big city is an unparalleled tribute to New York and an ideal introduction to one of today’s most exciting writers.