The Lonely City Explained

The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone is a non-fiction book written by Olivia Laing. The book was first published by Picador in 2016 and, like Laing's previous works, it blends research, biography and memoir.

The majority of the research for the book took place when Laing was living alone in New York City after having been abruptly left by a partner. Her reflections on the isolation she felt during this time make their way into the book.

Overview

The book is divided into eight chapters, with each chapter beginning with Laing's experiences being alone in New York, before devolving into reflections on artists and the way in which loneliness permeated their work. In order, the artists discussed are:

• Edward Hopper (and his wife Josephine Hopper)
• Andy Warhol
• David Wojnarowicz (and Nan Goldin)
• Henry Darger
• Vivian Maier
• Klaus Nomi
• Josh Harris
• Zoe Leonard

Reception

The book was well-received, earning generally positive reviews.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Lasdun. James. The Lonely City by Olivia Laing review – Warhol, Hopper, Garbo and the art of loneliness. March 5, 2017.
2. Web site: Calhoun. Ada. ‘The Lonely City,’ by Olivia Laing. March 5, 2017.
3. Web site: Garner. Dwight. Review: ‘The Lonely City,’ a Personal Study of Urban Isolation. March 5, 2017.
4. Web site: Roberts. Michèle. The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone by Olivia Laing, book review. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/the-lonely-city-adventures-in-the-art-of-being-alone-by-olivia-laing-book-review-a6895456.html . June 18, 2022 . subscription . live. March 5, 2017.