Fame and Obscurity: A Book About New York, a Bridge, and Celebrities on the Edge . . .

I didn't know that when I ordered and neither Amazon or the sellers apparently recognized that. I think Amazon should do better with the books that are newly printed, first available in soft cover, or something to stop this from occurring. I really didn't want two copies of the same essays.The hardback book was very used, the cover badly tattered with wear. The soft cover is/or looks new. And the photographs on the two books are different. Haven't decided whether keep both copies or what. Gay Talese over the years has become one of my all-time favorite authors - since my days in college. I love the "new journalism" tag and his style of writing is clean and tight. In college, the only thing I didn't like was the 20-page change of subject matter in 'Thy Neighbor's Wife.' It could have stood easily alone, one book on the social changes in American sex and one on the Sandstone project. But HE is still flawless in my view. I hope there is still more coming from Talese.

Although I have no desire to read Gay Talese's most recent book, this collection of essay is a classic. His prose swept me back to the Sixties, my teen years, and the city of New York, two hours from the rural Connecticut town where I grew up. People, the time, the place, the bridge. And craft - details and threads planted along the way then pulled together at the end of each essay - is masterful!

A taste of New York at the midpoint of the last century. Very refreshing!

The best writer of non-fiction ever. His perspective is matchless.

Non fiction literature is a USA product, at the most it comes fron the anglosaxon culture. That is why we can say that Gay Talese is The non fiction writer par excellence. The best there is. Yes, there might be better known non fiction writers "names", but no one has a cleaner, precise more efficient prose than Gay Talese. By far he is the best. If one pay attention to the structure and the language of his works you unerstand at least three things: in literature the theme IS NOT the most important part, also we can understand how non fiction most be written and the importance that these fourth genre has nowadays. Pure fiction works seems to be declining in front of non fiction. Except storys out of these world (Avatar, Harry Potter, et al). Maybe we have had enough fiction, after all real life has proven that the best storys are next door and the best characters are walking in the neighbourhood. Gay Talese's works are an impeccable argument. Yes, there is also Mailer, Wolfe, Krakauer, Didion...

Great service!! I love the book.

Great Book

The best piece of journalist I ever saw. From the first to the last page this book has a flowing narrative that is enjoyable and addictive at the same time. The way he depicts the characters (all real) and gathers all information in its minimal details has no parallel.