The Long-Winded Lady

By Maeve Brennan,

Book cover of The Long-Winded Lady: Notes from the New Yorker

Book description

“Of all the incomparable stable of journalists who wrote for The New Yorker during its glory days in the Fifties and Sixties,” writes The Independent, “the most distinctive was Irish-born Maeve Brennan.” From 1954 to 1981, Maeve Brennan wrote for The New Yorker’s “Talk of the Town” column under the…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked The Long-Winded Lady as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

“I saw a little boy on the street today, and he cried so eloquently that I will never forget him.” Maeve Brennan wrote for the New Yorker’s Talk of the Town section as ‘The Long-Winded Lady’ from 1954 to 1968. She roamed the city’s streets, bars, and restaurants, eyes wide open, weaving stories of vivid emotional detail from the most seemingly mundane moments. None of these are too long – in the waiting room concentration can be fleeting – but each sketch engages. Her story of the crying boy ends this way: “He might have been the last bird in…

From Alex's list on to read in the waiting room.

Want books like The Long-Winded Lady?

Our community of 10,000+ authors has personally recommended 94 books like The Long-Winded Lady.

Browse books like The Long-Winded Lady

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in New York State, New York City, and home?

10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about New York State, New York City, and home.

New York State Explore 709 books about New York State
New York City Explore 978 books about New York City
Home Explore 72 books about home