The Lonely City
First edition (US) | |
| Author | Olivia Laing |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Publisher | Picador |
Publication date | 2016 |
The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone is a non-fiction book written by British writer Olivia Laing. It was first published in 2016 by Canongate in the UK and Picador in the US. Like Laing's previous works, The Lonely City blends research, biography and memoir.
The majority of the research for the book took place when Laing was living alone in New York City, United States, after having been abruptly left by a partner. Their reflections on the isolation they felt during this time make their way into the book.
Overview
The book is divided into eight chapters, with each chapter beginning with Laing's experiences being alone in New York, before devolving into reflections on artists and the way in which loneliness permeated their work. Laing also discusses the artists' own experiences living in New York and how they depicted the city in their art.
In order, the artists discussed are:
- Edward Hopper (and his wife Josephine Hopper)
- Andy Warhol
- David Wojnarowicz (and Nan Goldin)
- Henry Darger
- Vivian Maier
- Klaus Nomi
- Josh Harris
- Zoe Leonard
Reception
The book was well-received, earning generally positive reviews.[1][2][3][4]
References
- ^ Lasdun, James (March 19, 2016). "The Lonely City by Olivia Laing review – Warhol, Hopper, Garbo and the art of loneliness". The Guardian. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
- ^ Calhoun, Ada (March 17, 2016). "'The Lonely City,' by Olivia Laing". The New York Times. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
- ^ Garner, Dwight (February 23, 2016). "Review: 'The Lonely City,' a Personal Study of Urban Isolation". The New York Times. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
- ^ Roberts, Michèle (February 25, 2016). "The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone by Olivia Laing, book review". The Independent. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2017.