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The Colossus of New York by Colson Whitehead

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The Colossus of New York

Colson Whitehead

Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group · Print & ebook · October 12, 2004

Reading lane: Middle Atlantic History

A Nonfiction pick for readers exploring The Colossus of New York.

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At a Glance

Who It's For

Good for readers interested in short storiesGood for readers who enjoy Middle Atlantic History and U.S. State & Local History.Strong fit for readers who prefer grounded, real-world context.

Book Details

Authors
Colson Whitehead
Publisher
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published
October 12, 2004
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Middle Atlantic History · U.S. State & Local History
Reading lane
Middle Atlantic History

Affinity

Publisher Categories

  • Literary Collections

  • Travel Essays & Travelogues

  • Middle Atlantic Travel (NJ, NY, PA)

About This Book

In a dazzlingly original work of nonfiction, the two time Pulitzer-Prize winning author of The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys recreates the exuberance, the chaos, the promise, and the heartbreak of New York. Here is a literary love song that will entrance anyone who has lived in—or spent time—in the greatest of American cities. A masterful evocation of the city that never sleeps, The Colossus of New York captures the city’s inner and outer landscapes in a series of...

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In a dazzlingly original work of nonfiction, the two time Pulitzer-Prize winning author of The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys recreates the exuberance, the chaos, the promise, and the heartbreak of New York. Here is a literary love song that will entrance anyone who has lived in—or spent time—in the greatest of American cities. A masterful evocation of the city that never sleeps, The Colossus of New York captures the city’s inner and outer landscapes in a series of vignettes, meditations, and personal memories. Colson Whitehead conveys with almost uncanny immediacy the feelings and thoughts of longtime residents and of newcomers who dream of making it their home; of those who have conquered its challenges; and of those who struggle against its cruelties. Whitehead’s style is as multilayered and multifarious as New York itself: Switching from third person, to first person, to second person, he weaves individual voices into a jazzy musical composition that perfectly reflects the way we experience the city. There is a funny, knowing riff on what it feels like to arrive in New York for the first time; a lyrical meditation on how the city is transformed by an unexpected rain shower; and a wry look at the ferocious battle that is commuting. The plaintive notes of the lonely and dispossessed resound in one passage, while another captures those magical moments when the city seems to be talking directly to you, inviting you to become one with its rhythms. The Colossus of New York is a remarkable portrait of life in the big city. Ambitious in scope, gemlike in its details, it is at once an unparalleled tribute to New York and the ideal introduction to one of the most exciting writers working today.

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