Gary Krist

GaryKristGary Krist wrote three novels—Bad Chemistry, Chaos Theory, and Extravagance—and two short story collections—The Garden State and Bone by Bone—before turning to narrative nonfiction with The White Cascade and his latest book, the New York Times Bestseller, City of Scoundrels, the city in this case being Chicago, that most American of American cities. One reviewer summed it up this way:  “Gary Krist has crafted a wild and appropriately explosive tale about mayhem, murder, corruption, and paranoia, set in the tinderbox that was post-WWI Chicago. This taut, hour-by-hour account of 12 days that forever changed the city will thrill history buffs and fiction fans alike.” Scott Turow proclaimed it a history that feels “like the most compelling adventure yarn full of crashing dirigibles, bloody riots, and classic crooks.” He “loved it.”Krist is now turning his attention to New Orleans for a history due out next year and we can’t wait to see which perspective has captured him.  The title for the new book, Empire of Sin, is a clue. Krist has been a regular book reviewer for The New York Times Book ReviewSalon, and The Washington Post Book World. His satirical op-eds have appeared in The New York Times and Newsday, and his stories, articles, and travel pieces have been featured in National Geographic TravelerThe Wall Street JournalGQPlayboyThe New RepublicEsquire, and on National Public Radio’s “Selected Shorts.” His stories have also been anthologized in such collections as Men Seeking WomenWriters’ Harvest 2, and Best American Mystery Stories. He has been the recipient of The Stephen Crane Award, The Sue Kaufman Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a Lowell Thomas Gold Medal for Travel Journalism, and a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. He lives in Bethesda, MD, with his wife and daughter.