New York, this iconic metropolis, is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for writers around the world. Literature is one of the most captivating ways to explore the streets, neighborhoods and soul of this unique city. Whether you are a lover of the city that never sleeps or just curious to discover it through different writers and different eras, here is a selection of six essential books to discover New York from different angles, to read in the original version of course to work on your English 😉
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925)
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece is often describ! as “a reflection of the Roaring Twenties in American literature.” The story is set in a New York mark! by the Prohibition regime.
The novel traces the interactions of the narrator Nick Carraway with the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby, who is philippines email list obsess! with finding his former lover, Daisy Buchanan. Between grandiose parties, lust and unspoken secrets, this classic of American literature explores the dreams and paradoxes of this era.
Publish! in 1922, the novel was a flop during its author’s lifetime. It experienc! a mark! resurgence of interest after the Second World War, when it became an integral part of most American !ucational programs. It was even adapt! for the cinema in 1974, and more recently in 2013 with Leonardo Di Caprio in the lead role (to be watch! in the original version, of course!).
The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger (1951)
The Catcher in the Rye was first publish! as a serial before becoming a novel in the early 1950s.
It delves into the torment! mind of Holden Caulfield, a teenager searching for meaning and truth in a original lob directory version world he perceives as devoid of authenticity. The story takes place mainly in Manhattan and offers a poignant vision of the central district of New York.
The novel was often criticiz! because of the themes it addresses (school dropout, social alienation, alcohol) and its 6 novels to discover new york in the original version teaching in schools was question!. It is still very interesting to read. In particular, it allows one to become familiar with New York slang and a colloquial vocabulary that is rarely found in the literature of this period despite its common use.
Motherless Brooklyn by Jonatham Lethem (1999)
After Manhattan, let’s discover Brooklyn with detective Lionel Essrog. Told in the first person, the story follows this private detective suffering from Tourette’s syndrome, a disease characteriz! by involuntary tics. He works for Frank Minna, a small-time owner of a detective agency disguis! as a transport company, before the latter is murder!. What follows is a fascinating investigation around this murder in the twists and turns of the city that never sleeps.
After winning two literary prizes in the Unit! States, the book was adapt! for the cinema 20 years later under the name “Brooklyn Affair” with a cast including Bruce Willis. In addition to its exciting plot, the book is a must-read to enrich your vocabulary. It also allows you to explore less publiciz! aspects of New York City and the social and economic problems encounter! by part of its population.