Not a sad young literary man

by Euan Kerr, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — Keith Gessen is a brave man.

He created and edits a caustic literary magazine called "N+1" which has a reputation for its smart and often snarky criticism.

After four years of pounding on writers in the magazine, he is facing the critics with his own first novel "All the Sad Young Literary Men."

Gessen told told Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr the novel is inspired by what happened to him and his friends when they moved to New York after college with dreams of being writers.

He said despite their degrees they weren't really prepared.

Broadcast Dates

• All Things Considered, 05/06/2008, 4:49 p.m.