| New York is undoubtedly America's most culturally | | | | developed its artsy reputation as it became home to |
| vibrant city. Throughout its history, it's always been a | | | | the Beats. With this came a renown for drink and |
| catalyst for innovation and change, not least in terms | | | | drug-addled parties and wild shenanigans that carried |
| of its literary contribution. Today, the city's literary | | | | on long into the 60s and 70s. |
| extensive heritage allows travelers to track the | | | | The area's coffee houses such as Caffe Reggio and |
| footsteps of some of its most celebrated contributors. | | | | Cafe Figaro have inspired work by writers like William |
| Greenwich Village | | | | Burroughs. There are several walking tours of the |
| Greenwich Village is the city's alternative hub, a pocket | | | | area, meanwhile, that offer an excellent way to |
| of bohemian free-thinking where both budding and | | | | experience its literary culture and history. |
| established writers have attempted and, on occasions, | | | | The Chelsea Hotel |
| successfully, penned some of their greatest works. | | | | Backpackers may find the prices a bit steeper than |
| A stay at one of the New York hostels surrounding | | | | your average New York hostel, but the famous |
| Greenwich Village's Washington Square Park is an | | | | Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan was another of the city's |
| excellent way to get to the heart of the city's literary | | | | major literary hotbeds. Found on 222 W 23rd Street, |
| heritage. As if being immortalized in the title of a Henry | | | | throughout its history it's been home to all manner of |
| James novel wasn't enough! | | | | figures from the world of music, cinema and fashion. |
| Locals from the surrounding New York University have | | | | Former long-term literary residents include Mark Twain, |
| helped maintain the area's bohemian air, where writers | | | | Arthur Miller and Jean-Paul Sartre. Interestingly, it's also |
| and intellectuals are to be found pondering the details | | | | where the great Dylan Thomas died and where Arthur |
| of their latest lecture. | | | | C. Clarke penned 2001: A Space Odyssey. |
| Just to the north of Washington Square at 23 Fifth | | | | Despite the price, unless you're really scruffily dressed, |
| Avenue, is the former home of socialite and literati | | | | there are rarely any objections to bookish travelers |
| figure, Mabel Dodge. Her parties were known through | | | | passing the hallowed doorway, and having a quick |
| the city as the place for an aspiring young writer to | | | | snoop around the place where Jack Kerouac |
| hobnob with the likes of Margaret Sanger, T.S. Elliot | | | | frantically hammered out the first draft of On the |
| and Gertrude Stein. | | | | Road! |
| In the wake of the Second World War, the area really | | | | |