Bright Lights, Big City

The publication of Bright Lights, Big City in 1984 heralded the arrival of Jay McInerney as a literary sensation. The novel chronicles the frenzied exploits of a young man as he attempts to outstrip mortality and the recurring approach of dawn in Manhattan. The author’s use of wit, goodwill, and controlled substances to sustain his anti-quest make this one of the most beloved, imitated, and iconic novels in America.