New York’s 100 Most Important Living Writers

by Flavorwire Staff. Posted on Flavorpill - Wednesday Nov 28, 2012

New York has ever been the center of the American literary universe — the city of Whitman, of Edith Wharton, of every bar in Greenwich village — and though the legendary metropolis has lost a little edge and a lot of grime since Henry Miller lived here, it is still home to and creative fodder for countless contemporary writers, each vying for their own place in its robust literary history.

As you may have heard, one of New York’s most legendary contemporary writers, Philip Roth, recently announced his retirement, which has left us thinking about the state of the city’s literary landscape — and where it might go from here. To that end, we’ve taken a look at some of New York City’s most important writers, from Roth’s contemporaries to his possible successors, from those who have already been established by the passage of many years of excellence to younger writers of note who may still either cement or demolish their reputations. In making our list, we’ve chosen writers and journalists in the NYC area with serious literary merit, taking into consideration their legacy, their publishing history, and their cultural relevance across the board. Find our ranked top 100 list, as well as interviews with many of these distinguished authors, after the jump, and get to quibbling (as we know you will) in the comments.



Click through for Flavorwire’s list of New York’s 100 Most Important Living Writers