Joe Gould's Secret

Joe Gould's Secret follows journalist Joseph Mitchell's encounters with Joe Gould, an eccentric Greenwich Village fixture who claimed to be writing a massive historical document in the early-to-mid 20th century. The book combines two profiles Mitchell wrote for The New Yorker, separated by over twenty years, chronicling his relationship with Gould and investigation into Gould's supposed life's work. Gould, a Harvard graduate who chose to live among the working class, insisted he was creating an "Oral History" - a sprawling manuscript that would capture the authentic voices and daily lives of common people in New York City. He became a well-known character in Greenwich Village, receiving support from local businesses and artists while working on his purported masterpiece. The narrative traces Mitchell's initial fascination with Gould's project and personality through their subsequent interactions over many years, building toward Mitchell's ultimate discovery about the true nature of the Oral History. The book explores themes of truth versus fiction, artistic authenticity, and the complex relationship between writer and subject.

Readers describe this book as a detailed character study of an eccentric New Yorker and a meditation on the nature of truth and storytelling. The narrative unfolds through Mitchell's two profiles of Gould, written 22 years apart. Readers appreciate: - The vivid portrayal of 1940s Greenwich Village - Mitchell's clear, observant writing style - The complex relationship between subject and journalist - The exploration of mental illness and homelessness Common criticisms: - The slow pace, especially in the second half - Some find the ending unsatisfying - Repetitive elements between the two profiles Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (80+ ratings) Reader quote: "Mitchell's prose is pristine and his eye for detail remarkable, but the real power lies in how he grapples with his own role in Gould's story." - Goodreads reviewer Several readers note this book is more about Mitchell himself than about Gould.

Up in the Old Hotel More of Mitchell's profiles of New York City characters and locales, featuring the same journalistic immersion and attention to eccentric personalities that characterizes Joe Gould's Secret.

The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester Chronicles the relationship between the Oxford English Dictionary's editor and a major contributor who was confined to an asylum, presenting a similar exploration of genius, obsession, and hidden truths.

Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell Depicts the author's experiences living among society's margins, echoing Gould's chosen lifestyle and the documentation of working-class voices.

The Friend by Sigrid Nunez Examines the complex relationship between a writer and their subject through the lens of grief and literary obligation, mirroring Mitchell's complicated connection to Gould.

Footnotes from the World's Greatest Bookstores by Bob Eckstein Captures the atmosphere and characters of New York's literary haunts, providing context for the Greenwich Village environment where Gould's story unfolded.

🗯️ Author Joseph Mitchell stopped writing and publishing after completing this book in 1964, though he continued going to his office at The New Yorker every day until his death in 1996. 📚 The "Oral History" that Joe Gould claimed to be writing would have been approximately 9.25 million words long - about twelve times the length of Marcel Proust's "In Search of Lost Time." 🎭 The story was adapted into a 2000 film starring Stanley Tucci as Mitchell and Ian Holm as Gould, receiving critical acclaim for its faithful portrayal of the unique relationship between the two men. 🏛️ Harvard-educated Gould was from a prominent New England family but chose to live as a bohemian in Greenwich Village, often sleeping in flophouses or on park benches. 🖋️ Mitchell originally published two separate profiles of Gould in The New Yorker - "Professor Sea Gull" (1942) and "Joe Gould's Secret" (1964) - which were later combined to create this book.