New York in the Fifties
Back of the Book
New York in the Fifties is Dan Wakefield's story of a unique time and place in cultural history, when New York City was a hotbed of free love, hot jazz, radical politics, psychoanalysis, and artistic expression. Wakefield found himself in the middle of a world in which anything was possible, and he writes about the era with the keen eye of a historian and the first-hand knowledge and affection of one who lived through a fabled, fertile era. Wakefield enriches his recollections with the first-hand accounts of his friends and colleagues-Joan Didion, Gay Talese, Allen Ginsberg, William F. Buckley, James Baldwin, and others who made New York in the fifties the legend that still exerts such a powerful influence on American life.
Why You Should Read It
Dan Wakefield gives readers a look into the ways of being in New York during one of the most culturally and politically significant periods in American history. With a throughline of his own personal experiences, New York in the Fifties offers us a grounded look at life as monumental turbulence rocks the foundations of life in America.
Memorable Passage
I don’t deny the nostalgia I feel, nor do I deny the darkness peculiar to the time and place I now celebrate. Almost everyone I reminisced with spoke about the heavy boozing without my bringing it up: “We drank too much,” “How did we drink so much?” We abused our bodies with booze and lack of sleep, and inhaled a pack of cigarettes as if they were oxygen. We cared nothing for nothing for diet or exercise. A few of us smoked pot, and many of us took the popular uppers of the time, on prescription from doctors or psychiatrists-Dexedrine and Dexanyl, those heart-shaped green and orange pills. But for all our excesses, which we often justified as “literary” in imitation of our Roaring Twenties idols, we somehow managed to survive and observe and create in an especially fruitful time.
About the Author
Dan Wakefield, born on February 1, 1932, is an accomplished American author, journalist, and screenwriter whose multifaceted career has left a lasting impact on American literature and media. His work encompasses a wide range of genres, including novels, memoirs, essays, and screenplays. Wakefield gained early acclaim for his novel Going All the Way, which vividly captured the post-World War II era and was later adapted into a successful film. Known for his keen observations on American culture, Wakefield's writings often explore themes of identity, spirituality, and the changing social landscape. Beyond his literary achievements, he is a respected journalist who has contributed to major publications, including The New York Times Magazine and The Atlantic. With a commitment to authenticity and a deep connection to his Midwestern roots, Dan Wakefield is worth knowing for his nuanced storytelling, social commentary, and his enduring influence on the literary and journalistic spheres in the United States.
Further Reading
A Conversation with Dan Wakefield by Mary Kenny Mitchell, Image Journal
Recommended By
“[One book I would recommend to the So Textual community is] Dan Wakefield’s New York in the Fifties — a collection of stories, interviews, and recollections of jazz, writing, politics, the Beats, Greenwich Village, and so much more. (Didion has a few good cameos, too).”