First published 2003
More than 25 prominent authors gather to honor the silver anniversary of New York Is Book Country, the annual festival that transforms the publishing capital into a reader's paradise. Billy Collins provides a keynote poem for this commemorative collection. The contributors span genres and generations: prize-winning poets, bestselling suspense writers, acclaimed children's authors, a pioneering publisher, and nationally syndicated columnists. Their personal reflections explore both the festival's impact and their deep connections to New York's literary community. Cynthia Ozick remembers the Depression-era library van serving her Bronx neighborhood. Nelson DeMille reveals the Third Avenue bar conversation that sparked his Vietnam War novel. Lawrence Block wrestles with depicting New York after 9/11. These never-before-published pieces weave together individual stories of books, reading, and the city that nurtures both writers and readers through its vibrant annual celebration.
Genres: literary-fiction, anthologies, contemporary, new-york, books-about-books
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
Setting: Bronx, New York, Third Avenue
Period: 9/11, Depression Era, Vietnam War
1 pages · Hardcover · New York Is Book Country