New York is a city that has been written about like no other. On a tour walking the USA’s city of New York, you can often find inspiration in many of the stories unfolding around you – and that’s precisely what inspired several novelists to set their stories in ‘The Big Apple’. Many American novels, from hardboiled crime to postmodern meta-fiction, have either prominently featured, or been set in, the city of New York. Here are a few of our favourite books featuring the city.

The Catcher in the Rye

J.D Salinger’s classic novel, The Catcher in the Rye, captured a vision of New York like no other. Told through the eyes of Holden Caulfield, the novel was originally published in 1953 and has stood the test of time as an examination of disaffected youth, being included in Time magazine’s 2005 list of the 100 best English-language novels written since 1923. It was named by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best English-Language novels of the 20th century. Following Holden as he journeys through New York on a quest of self-discovery, and featuring a gripping stream-of-consciousness narration, a tour walking USA’s most vibrant city, New York, will allow you to appreciate the personal journey as much as Salinger did.

The Devil Wears Prada

Adapted into a hit movie in 2006, Lauren Weisburger’s successful novel presented the glamorous side of New York City, following central character Andrea Sachs, a graduate hired as a personal assistant to a powerful fashion magazine editor in New York, the ironically-named Miranda Priestly. Her job becomes more and more trying as her editor grows more and more demanding. While a walking USA tour of New York won’t bring you to the editorial suites of the city’s glossy magazines, the boutique shopping can provide the ‘Andrea Sachs’ experience.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Another novel adapted into a famous film, Breakfast at Tiffany’s was written by Truman Capote in 1958, and tells the story of a year’s friendship between Holly Golightly and the unnamed narrator of the novel. In 1961, the novel was adapted into a film starring Audrey Hepburn, and the role of Holly Golightly was considered the actresses most unique and identifiable role. The novel’s language, however, had to be toned down for the screenplay! If you’re walking the USA’s more glamorous side to New York, you will spot some of the film and novel’s iconic locations in Manhattan, such as the ‘Brownstone’ apartments that Holly resided in.

The New York Trilogy

Paul Auster’s famous meta-fictional detective stories, ‘City of Glass’, ‘Ghosts’, and ‘The Locked Room’, form his New York Trilogy – an intricate mixture of detective stories and a postmodernist deconstruction of identity, in which the author appears in his own book (or does he?). Be glad that a tour walking this USA author’s version of New York won’t take you to the depths of madness plumbed by character Peter Stillman, who memorably plans his walks around a New York park so that his route spells out ‘The Tower of Babel’, one letter at a time every day. It’s chilling material – New York has never been so mysterious.

Author Bio: Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. They offer over 250 guided group walking holidays in over 90 different countries. Join our walking USA tours with Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, and you will see scenic locations & landscapes at the best value prices.

Category: Travel
Keywords: walking USA