A Town Without Time: Gay Talese's New York – The Master Journalist's Greatest Reporting on the City's Eccentric Characters from the 1950s to Today

by Gay Talese

From legendary journalist Gay Talese, a collection of his greatest reporting on New York City.

“Along with Joan Didion, Norman Mailer, Tom Wolfe and others, Mr. Talese has been acclaimed as a virtuoso of the novelistic New Journalism.” —Wall Street Journal

“They fly in quietly—unnoticed, like the cats, the ants, the doorman with three bullets in his head, and most of the other offbeat wonders in this town without time.” —from “New York Is a City of Things Unnoticed,” Talese’s first Esquire story, 1960

For over six decades, Gay Talese has told New York stories. They are the stories of daring bridge builders, disappearing gangsters, intrepid Vogue editors, unassuming doormen who’ve seen too much. They are set in the star-studded salons of George Plimpton’s apartment, in the tense newsroom of a still burgeoning New York Times, in an electric studio session with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recording their debut.

With the wit, elegance, and depth of insight that has long characterized his work, Talese’s New York reporting showcases a master of the form at his finest, making intelligible the city’s vibrant beating pulse, capturing the charming, the eccentric, and the overlooked. Whether prowling the night streets to discover the social hierarchy of alley cats, or uncovering the triumph and terror of building the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, or plunging into the hidden, sordid world of a recently blown-up apartment building, Talese excavates the city around him with a reporter’s eye and an artist’s flair, crafting delightful, profound, indelible portraits of the people who live there. Spanning the 1950s to today, the fourteen pieces in this collection are a time capsule of what New York once was and still is—Talese proves time and time again that, even as the city changes, his view of it remains as timeless as ever.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays, New York, Journalism, History, Contemporary

432 pages, Hardcover

Published December 3, 2024

About the author

Gay Talese is an American author. He wrote for The New York Times in the early 1960s and helped to define literary journalism or "new nonfiction reportage", also known as New Journalism. His most famous articles are about Joe DiMaggio, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra.

Reviews

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected to like this collection of articles, but I didn’t realize that the author is really kind of rambling and boring. My main problem with this collection is that I wasn’t at all interested in the subjects of these articles - bridge building, infighting at the NY Times, stray cats (and I love cats), Tony Bennett, a kidnapped mobster. I live in NYC. There are a million interesting potential subjects. I don’t agree with the author’s selection. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

[Drew M Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

" ... never returned, incidentally, to pick up his pistol." - the last 8 words of this fabulous and elegant book of "New Journalism" reportatage about the city of New York and the lives that are captured here and capture the city while criss-crossing through time and non-time. From building the Verrazzano to recording with Sinatra to blowing up a Brownstone, this book is a real, detailed ride on Talese's pen and meticulous research.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is based on an advance reader copy.

This book is supposedly a collection of Gay Talese's best. This collection starts off strong, but quickly becomes a slog to get through. I found Part 1 (with a short overview of NYC's "unnoticed" and a very long piece on the Staten Island bridge) to be quite interesting, if extremely uneven in length. Part 2 however, starts off with a 50 page piece on the office politics of the New York Times which I found just painful to get through. The next three pieces in this section were also on characters in the journalism industry and were little, if at all, better. Part 3 was again interesting, with some shorter pieces on some of the city's oddballs and then a long piece on the kidnapping of Mafioso Joe Bonanno. Rounding out the book were Part 4 with pieces on Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra, and Part 5 with a long piece on Dr. Bartha's brownstone (that he blew up in 2006) and a short blurb on the author's own brownstone.

Even in pieces I found mostly interesting, I have to admit I'm not a huge fan of Talese's writing style, particularly for the longer pieces. They can be rambling and go off on so many tangents within tangents you sometimes lose the point of it all.

Overall, I have mixed feelings about this book. I learned some interesting things, but it wasn't quite my cup of tea.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Mariner Books for an advance copy of this new collection of works by a writer who created a new form of writing mixing elements of fiction, reporting and immersion into his subjects, changing journalism and essay writing in numerous ways.

I have always been a fan of the iconoclastic science fiction writer Harlan Ellison. Years ago, pre-internet being a gleam in Al Gore's eye, I read that Ellison has a clash with a brash singer by the name of Frank Sinatra, and the encounter was captured in a article for the magazine Esquire. Again being pre-internet I had to hunt around libraries and used book stores trying to find a copy of the article written by the author with a name I thought was fake Gay Talese. When I finally found it, I was enthralled. The article Frank Sinatra has a cold, caught the singer at an odd time in his life, not as famous, but famous, in love, but not in love. At a loss stylistically, and it seems in many ways emotionally. The writing though is what held me. The way Talese observed, but didn't judge, just reported. A story about a man, his talent, his fears, his acts, and the people who supported him. It really was like nothing I have read, and I still use the title when I talk about difficult people at work, or in my family. Talese has written about many subjects and people, but his stories about the greatest city in the world, seem to stand out, and this collection brings them all together. A Town Without Time: Gay Talese's New York features essays about bridges, alley cats, singers, swingers, doormen, and the people that we see everyday, but only a writer like Talese ever notices.

The book begins with an essay that features a time in the City that has long passed, with doormen, discreetly opening doors, hailing cabs and knowing when to look away. With shoe shine boys, and and late night workers travelling to jobs that have gone away. The longest essay, really book length is about the building of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge the "boomers" who built it, and their lives, travails, accidents and hard-living. Talese embedded himself into their lives, and in a introduction to the piece is still in contact with many of the men almost 60 years later. Profiles of famous New Yorkers like George Plimpton and the creation of the Paris Review magazine, and literary salons in New York. Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recording an album. A study of alley cats, and of course the piece that made him a study on the Chairman of the Board and the sniffles that gave title to the essay.

The era might have passed for a lot of these people, but the writing will always stand the test of time. There is a freshness, a strength and a sureness. Each word of value, checked gone over and made sure it will fit the profile, or the piece itself. One can see the subjects trust the writer, so much they act like they do, stupid in some occasions, but always honest. Gangsters, singers, construction men and more pass through, sharing their stories, and reminding us that everyone has a story, if only someone as talented as Talese would write it. Readers can see the influence, the letting the story go where it goes, and getting to end when it does, or where it does.

Fans of New York will love this collection, as will readers who love words, and great writing. Talese has been an influence on many writers, and one can learn quite a bit from this collection.

[Elisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s always hard to rate a great book that you just didn’t enjoy. Talese is unquestionably an amazing writer. Each article here is flawless and vividly recreates the world through his eyes, in a way that makes it real and brings the past back to life. But this volume is described as “a collection of his greatest reporting on New York City” and, while some parts do talk about the Big Apple, this is mostly about the people who live there (and elsewhere). I enjoyed the articles but when they went into the matter at length, they lost me. Even the one about Tony Bennet or Frank Sinatra included too much information. Readers who enjoy the type of journalism from the golden period will really enjoy this. I am not that reader.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Mariner Books Classics.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Town Without Time by Gay Talese, this is a collection of the authors journalism articles from the 60s on into the 80s it’s like getting a newspaper with all your favorite interest stories included from a well off homeless woman to how the author acquired the home he would raise his family in to Frank Sinatra in the one thing that could stop him in his tracks as well as other things that worry the crooner to much much more I found these stories every one of them was so interesting especially the first one his writing is sometimes beautiful sometimes quirky but always something you want to keep reading until the end. There’s even the last story about the history of mariner books and all the famous titles from Virginia Woolf to the color purple and much much more. I really enjoyed this book it definitely recommend it. #NetGalley #MarinerBooks,#GayTalese, #aTownWithout Time,

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading “A Town Without Time” A collection of writings by author Gay Talese. I’ve been a fan of Talese since the 70s and some of the stories within were familiar, while others new. Some stories went on to become books (e.g. ‘The Kingdom and the Power’ & ‘The Kidnapping of Joe Bonanno’. ‘The Bridge’ and ‘New York is a City of Things Unnoticed’ were included in a collection titled ‘Fame & Obscurity’ but given a few updates here). While reading some of the newer pieces (Dr Bartha’s Brownstone), it was nice to see that he still has it and I remembered why I love reading this prince of late 20th century New York’s literary world. He has a way of telling a story, frequently detouring to explore the back story of a new character, but very readable and he always ties things up in the end for a satisfying conclusion.

[Bradley Hovda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Gay Talese’s A Town Without Time the way I enjoyed A. J. Liebling, E.B. White or even Ian Frazier’s writing about New York, though I’ve only been there twice. He chases his tail all around the city visiting store fronts, back alleys, waterfronts, bridges but mostly people. From interview to interview he meets and greets the denizens by the dozen, obliging them a place by noting their vocalizations, some of which are more interesting than others. I won’t say it is a frantic cab ride but it is no leisurely stroll on the boardwalk. If I haven’t said enough to entice you to read this book, I’ve another shortcoming. Add it to the pile. Do yourself a couple favors, though, read this book and keep loving New York.

[Scott Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gay Talese is an incredibly graceful writer. His reporting is thorough and exhaustive. My only complaint with this collection of New York-centric stories is that sometimes the details bog down the narrative. But that's a small, small quibble. Frank Sinatra Has a Cold is one of the greatest magazine stories ever, and his piece on bridges and the men who built them -- Oakland's Bay Bridge, Michigan's Mackinac Bridge and, mostly, New York's Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, is a stone-cold classic. Really enjoyed this.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought this book on impulse while in NYC. Glad I read it. GT's writing is fabulous, but some of these essays are way too long and the cost-benefit analysis just doesn't work for me. The determined reader will find many gems in here, but they are frequently buried in not very interesting . . . stuff. Also there were too many usage errors, which is quite surprising for a writer of this stature. Glad I read it, but not sure I'd recommend it.

[Dvora Treisman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is brilliant -- the writing, the stories, the place. I found some stories more interesting than others; my favorites were Looking for Hemingway, The Kidnapping of Joe Bonanno, Mr. Bad News, Frank Sinatra has a Cold, Dr. Bartha's Brownstone, My New York City Apartment, and my favorite of them all, The Bridge. How refreshing and uplifting to read a book by someone who really knows how to write.

[Dipra Lahiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gay Talese is amongst the greatest of narrative non-fiction writers in the last century and this collection features essays that are placed in or about New York, with some classics such as "Mr Sinatra has a cold", "The bridge" and "Mr Bad News". Brilliant as always.

[Stephanie Baumgardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Talese’s writing! He goes on many tangents but I think that’s part of the charm.

The Bridge (1964) and Journey into the Cat Jungle (published in The New York Times Sunday Magazine, 1957) were my favorites.

[Eila Mcmillin · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 45%

This is so mind numbingly boring, I just can't. I feel bad because I did get a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway but my God this put me to sleep more than three times. I just couldn't.

[Howard Giordano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gay Talese can make a trip to the bathroom read like the most exciting adventure you’ve read in a long while. These are a collection of stories about the ordinary but are written in Talese’s style that keeps you riveted like you were reading a Ken Follett’s epic novel.

[John Michael Stroh · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one can describe NYC quite like this author.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book that I will definitely read over and over

[Russ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just so good!!

[Tyler J Hinds · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.4

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't expect 14 stories by Talese that were published previously in various publications over the last 60 years. Not all stories interested me, and some were lengthy without pleasure, so I moved ahead to one I preferred. I liked the narrator and I liked his writing style, I just found some segments boring.

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thanks first to Goodreads for the free book. I had been so excited to receive this book when I entered the giveaway and was expecting to love this book. This is the only book I have ever DNFed in a giveaway. It's actually been a long time since I started a book and haven't finished it.

I didn't read very far in the book, but there were quite a few examples of homophobia, racism, and fatphobia in the few pages I did read. I am going to share some quotes to make it clear. It is impossible to trust the historical information when the source has so much bias. It is so important when reading non-fiction to check out who the author is.

Some of the quotes:

(Talking about people in New York who go to movies at 8 am) "They are truck drivers, homosexuals, cops, hacks, cleaning ladies, and restaurant men who worked all night." The homophobia and sexism in that statement is crazy!

(Talking about the George Washington Bridge) "the chubby girl who lumbers across it's 3,500-foot span trying to reduce"

Instead, saying Black or African, because why would he, "Negroes live in Harlem"

I am sure if I read past PAGE 18, I would have found a million more examples, but I refuse to waste my time.