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Here is New York

E. B. White

59 Pages
2011

Here is New York

New York Review of Books

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Here is New York - Summary

E.B. White's intimate portrait of New York City, written during a sweltering summer in 1948, offers readers a timeless exploration of Manhattan's essence. This remarkable essay captures the city's vibrant spirit, complexity, and contradictions through the eyes of one of America's most celebrated writers. White's personal observations and reflections create an intimate walking tour that reveals both the grand and subtle characteristics that make New York a singular metropolis.

Key Ideas

1

The City's Three Dimensions

Through White's perspective, New York exists simultaneously in three distinct layers: as the city of native New Yorkers who take it for granted, as the city of commuters who claim it by day, and as the city of dreamers who come seeking fortune and transformation. These dimensions interweave to create the city's unique fabric.

2

Urban Privacy in Density

White explores the paradoxical nature of New York's crowded solitude, where millions of people live in close proximity while maintaining their personal space and anonymity. This tension between connection and isolation defines the New York experience.

3

Perpetual Change and Timelessness

The essay captures how New York constantly reinvents itself while somehow maintaining its essential character. White demonstrates how the city's physical transformations coexist with an unchanging spirit that makes it eternally recognizable.

FAQ's

The essay's enduring appeal lies in its ability to capture both the physical and spiritual essence of New York while avoiding clichรฉs. White's observations remain remarkably relevant decades later, proving his insight into the city's fundamental character.

As both an outsider and insider, White brings a balanced perspective that combines wonder with intimate knowledge. His position as a part-time resident allows him to see the city with both fresh eyes and deep understanding.

Despite being written over 70 years ago, the essay's observations about the city's character, its people, and its fundamental nature continue to ring true, demonstrating the timeless quality of both the writing and New York itself.

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