Legends of the Chelsea Hotel: Living with Artists and Outlaws in New York’s Rebel Mecca
- Used Book in Good Condition
There’s a current that courses through the old Chelsea Hotel, an electricity that drives people relentlessly to create. It’s an energy that longtime resident and creator of “Living with Legends: Hotel Chelsea Blog” Ed Hamilton will tell you often drives inhabitants to madness. In a series of linked cyanide capsules, Legends of the Chelsea Hotel tells the odd, funny, and often tragic truth of the writers, artists, and musicians — the famous and the obscure alike — who have fallen prey t
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Uneven, interesting, some misinformation,
There is misinformation. The author has William Burroughs not only staying at the hotel, but writing Naked Lunch there. It is common knowledge that he wrote the book in Tangier. So, one has to question all the historical information.
But history isn’t really the question – it is the vibe of living in the Chelsea, and the author does a good job of describing his experiences. He is not a professional writer, and it shows – the book could have used a good edit (which apparently publishers don’t do anymore).
For a good history of the Chelsea in earlier years, read At the Chelsea by Florence Turner (which may be out of print – worth hunting down). Turner is a far better writer, and her memoir shines.
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|Great Insider Account,
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|Best book I’ve read this year,
Hamilton writes so beautifully I found myself going back and re-reading chapters just for the pleasure of enjoying his writing again. And while he spares no gruesome details, this book feels like a love letter to the Chelsea, which Hamilton seems to love despite its gritty side. After all, how can you not love the opportunity to know Storme DeLarverie, Stanley Bard, Gerald Busby, Hiroya, and the whole colorful cast of characters that Hamilton gives us a peek of in this book? I first became fascinated with the Chelsea when I saw Lance Loud move there in the 70’s on PBS’s “American Family,” the first reality TV show. When they showed Holly Woodlawn come strolling into Lance Loud’s room there I thought “I have to GO to that place!!”
My only wish is that there will be a “sequel” to the book… I can’t get enough of these stories!
There are some photos in the middle of the book, which are nice to have.
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