Pete Hamill byl romanopiscem, esejistou a novinářem, jehož kariéra trvala více než čtyřicet let. Jeho psaní se často zaměřuje na téma identity, zejména v kontextu imigrace a života v New Yorku. Své vyprávění obohacuje o bohatý smysl pro místo a pulzující energii městského života, přičemž jeho styl je charakterizován jako přímý, silný a plný soucitu. Hamill často zkoumal sociální nespravedlnost, lidskou houževnatost a složité vztahy, které formují naše životy.
Vyprávění o přátelství irského chlapce a opuštěného rabína, uprchlíka z Prahy, se odehrává v poválečném Brooklynu.
Citlivý jedenáctiletý chlapec se seznámí s rabínem, který přežil válku a emigroval z Evropy do Ameriky. Nevšední přátelství posiluje i vzájemné vyučování americké angličtiny a jidiš. V dělnické čtvrti ale působí antisemitská tlupa místních chuligánů, kteří oba přátele vážně ohrožují. V těžké situaci může pomoci pouze zázrak. Krásné vyprávění osciluje mezi fantazií a skutečností.
Meyer Berger's journalism vividly captures the essence of New York City in the fifties, showcasing his talent for detailed storytelling through his "About New York" column. A Pulitzer Prize winner, Berger's work provides intimate glimpses into the lives of everyday New Yorkers and the city's unique atmosphere. This collection, curated by Berger himself, highlights his influence on future writers and the depth of his reporting, making it a significant piece of literary history. His legacy continues through the annual Meyer Berger Prize awarded by Columbia University.
"Street People" is a different kind of photo essay. Over fifty candid, masterful portraits celebrate beggars and buskers, peddlers and poets, shopping-bag ladies and rebels with a cause, members of a distinct, highly visible, always colorful urban subculture.
Introduction by Pete Hamill.When Manhattan joints were hung out to dry, the Booze-oizie sniveled, then pirouetted on their stools to find reasonably palatable Speakeasy facsimiles. These Prohibition hangouts each had their own flavor, decorum, décor and formula for ducking the law. Each found its own alcoholic its own inimitable characters behind, at and under the bar.Fear not – all has not been lost to the repeal of the 18th Amendment, Starbucks corporate latte, and the wrecking ball. One intoxicating artifact remains, a book of lustrous vintage – Al Hirschfeld's The Speakeasies of 1932 , wherein Hirschfeld nails these dipsomaniacal outposts with his pen and brush in the manner of a dour Irish bartender sizing up a troublesome souse. Provided as well is the recipe for each of the speakeasy's cocktail claim to fame. The resulting concoction is the perfect antidote to the Cappuccino Grande Malaise, a book that will make everyone yearn for a Manhattan, old fashioned, and straight up.“His comments are as swooping and witty as his lines.”– The New Yorker
The islands that form New York City are far more subtle and varied than the five that can be seen from the air. In this spectacular portrait of the great metropolis, renowned photographer Jake Rajs juxtaposes iconic views―the Empire State Building, the Hudson River skyline, the Brooklyn Bridge―with unheralded neighborhoods and hidden places throughout the five boroughs. Pete Hamill's literary portrait perfectly complements Rajs's visual presentation. This lively and compelling view traces the history of the city from its beginnings as an Indian hunting and fishing ground to the early years of settlement by immigrants from all corners of the world to the numerous and overlapping islands that now make up the city as a whole. First published in a deluxe edition in 1998, this unique presentation is now available to all who are eager to explore the city that fascinates the world.
In Downtown, Pete Hamill leads us on an unforgettable journey through the city he loves, from the island's southern tip to Times Square, combining a moving memoir of his days and nights in New York with a passionate history of its most enduring places and people.
Cormac O'Connor, who arrives in New York City from Ireland in 1741, has been given the gift of immortality--but only on the condition that he never leave the island of Manhattan. Through his eyes, this magical epic follows the city's transformation from a burgeoning settlement to the thriving metropolis of the present day. But this is also Cormac's story as he explores the mysteries of time and immortality, death and loss, sex and love.
In "A Drinking Life," Pete Hamill reflects on his experiences with alcohol over two decades of sobriety. Through his Brooklyn upbringing, he explores how drinking shaped masculinity, relationships, and mourning. This candid memoir captures the bittersweet essence of his early life and the destructive power of alcohol on memory and clarity.
Exploring modern ideas and perspectives, this collection features influential essays and writings from prominent thinkers. It delves into various themes such as politics, society, culture, and technology, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of contemporary issues. Each piece is designed to provoke thought and encourage dialogue, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in the complexities of today's world. The anthology serves as both an introduction to contemporary thought and a reflection on the challenges we face in the modern era.
In this unique homage to an American icon, journalist and award-winning author Pete Hamill evokes the essence of Sinatra--examining his art and his legend from the inside, as only a friend of many years could do. Shaped by Prohibition, the Depression, and war, Francis Albert Sinatra became the troubadour of urban loneliness. With his songs, he enabled millions of others to tell their own stories, providing an entire generation with a sense of tradition and pride belonging distinctly to them.
