New York Days

by Willie Morris

The author describes his years as the youngest-ever editor-in-chief of "Harper's," recounting how he rubbed elbows with the likes of Woody Allen and Robert Kennedy

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, New York, History, Biography

396 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

William Weaks "Willie" Morris (November 29, 1934 — August 2, 1999), was an American writer and editor born in Jackson, Mississippi, though his family later moved to Yazoo City, Mississippi, which he immortalized in his works of prose. Morris' trademark was his lyrical prose style and reflections on the American South, particularly the Mississippi Delta. In 1967 he became the youngest editor of Harper's Magazine. He wrote several works of fiction and non-fiction, including his seminal book North Toward Home, as well as My Dog Skip.

Reviews

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finally picked this up as parallel world companion reading to waiting for Mad Men S6. (I blame Glen Bishop.) It is so very Mad Men -- brutally American in its conceits, yet infuriating in its nagging romanticisms. Bless Willie's (broken) heart.

[M. Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can you not be mesmerized by a book about a Mississippian making a big splash in New York--especially when the Mississipian is Willie Morris and his splash is as editor-in-chief of Harper's? Morris writes lyrically and powerfully of the running of a magazine and all the politics and egos that go into putting together issue after issue of cutting edge articles by such wonderful writers as David Halberstam ("The Second Coming Of Marting Luther King," "The Programming of Robert McNamara," "The Face of the Enemy in Vietnam"); Larry L. King (“Requiem for a West Texas Town”, “My Hero LBJ”, “The Old Man”); Norman Mailer ("Steps of the Pentagon" which would later became “Armies of the Night.”

And the fiction and poetry! Isaac Bashevis Singer, John Updike, Joyce Carol Oates, James Dickey, Bernard Malamud, Jorge Luis Borges, May Swenson, the list goes on. This is the ultimate behind the scenes look at how a 32-year-old talented-writer-turned-editor fell in love with a magazine worthy of his love. It is the story of a broken heart, too, when the love affair ends.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as North Towards Home.

[Jada · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea

[Juneko Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this book by accident and was really taken with it. Morris has a wonderfully vivid way of depicting the heady excitement of his days at Oxford and his early years as a journalist back when serious journalism was just coming into its own back in the 1950s. Fundamentally, it's a book about a country boy who goes off into the big world and encounters some brilliant minds and big personalities along the way.

[Aldafan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I finished most of it. It is written by the former editor of Harper's magazine. Mostly it is name-dropping of famous authors, some I've heard of, most I've never read. But still, I enjoyed the stories of New York.

[Kate Cal]

Seems appropriate reading for a southerner moved to NYC... I'm enjoying the descriptions of NY in the sweltering summertime and the nods in other directions, too.