The Last Literary Lion of New York, Gay Talese
20 days ago
- #Gay Talese
- #New York writers
- #literary journalism
- Gay Talese, at 93, is the last of his generation of literary lions, having shaped and participated in significant cultural currents.
- Known for iconic profiles like 'Frank Sinatra Has a Cold,' Talese prefers writing about marginalized figures—ironworkers, sex workers, and mobsters.
- Talese's career spans from newspaper copy boy to literary icon, with a focus on immersive, long-form journalism.
- He reflects on his tumultuous yet enduring 67-year marriage to Nan, a powerful book editor, and their shared love for movies and baseball.
- Talese discusses his contemporaries—Tom Wolfe, Nora Ephron, Joan Didion—and the competitive yet collaborative literary scene of their era.
- Despite health challenges, Talese remains intellectually vibrant, continuing to work on a book about his marriage and reflecting on his legacy.
- He shares anecdotes about famous friends and encounters, including Al Pacino, Peter O’Toole, and Donald Trump.
- Talese's approach to journalism emphasizes curiosity, respect for subjects, and a narrative style that blends fiction techniques with nonfiction.
- His latest collection, 'A Town Without Time,' revisits his New York writings, including pieces on the Italian Mafia and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
- Talese's influence endures among younger writers, and he remains a bridge to mid-20th-century literary journalism.