Long Island has long been an inspiration for writers, providing a backdrop for stories that range from the decadent to the mysterious.
Its diverse landscapes and proximity to the pulsing life of New York City make it an attractive setting for novelists looking to explore themes of wealth, isolation, and the complexities of the American experience.
Here is a look at some novels that bring Long Island to life, each offering a unique window into the island’s multifaceted personality.
No discussion of Long Island-set novels is complete without mention of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s magnum opus, “The Great Gatsby.”
This classic work of American literature is set in the fictional West Egg and East Egg — stand-ins for real places on Long Island during the Roaring Twenties.
The novel captures the era’s exuberance and the decadence of the wealthy class.
Jay Gatsby, the enigmatic millionaire with a mysterious past, throws lavish parties in the hopes of rekindling his romance with the aristocratic Daisy Buchanan.
Fitzgerald’s novel is an incisive critique of the American Dream and remains a seminal portrayal of Long Island as a land of desire and disillusionment.
Nelson DeMille’s “The Gold Coast” brings readers to the North Shore of Long Island, home to America’s most affluent and old-money families.
DeMille’s protagonist, John Sutter, is an attorney living a comfortable life among the elite, whose world is turned upside down when Mafia don Frank Bellarosa moves in next door.
The novel examines the collision of established wealth and the sometimes unsavory means by which it can be acquired.
As John becomes embroiled in Frank’s world, “The Gold Coast” takes readers through a complex narrative of power, corruption, and betrayal.
With “Plum Island,” Nelson DeMille introduces a different facet of Long Island life: the quieter, rural environs of the East End.
When a double homicide occurs on this isolated fragment of land where a government research center is located, NYPD detective John Corey finds himself drawn into a mystery that reaches back into history and involves buried pirate treasure.
The scenic beauty of the island contrasts with the dark secrets that Corey uncovers, providing a suspenseful and engaging exploration of the area.
In “The Winter of Our Discontent,” Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck delves into the moral decay of a middle-class man in post-war America.
Set in a fictional town called New Baytown, based on Sag Harbor on Long Island, the novel portrays the life of Ethan Allen Hawley, a former member of the local aristocracy who now works as a clerk.
Steinbeck uses Hawley’s descent into moral compromise to examine the broader social changes afoot in the country, making the Long Island setting integral to the novel’s theme of moral crisis.
One of the more innovative novels set in Long Island is William Gaddis’s “J R,” which tells the story of an eleven-year-old capitalist, J R Vansant, who creates a financial empire from a public school payphone.
Though largely set in Long Island, “J R” is more focused on the absurdities of corporate America than the specifics of place.
Nonetheless, the setting does play a significant role in framing the novel’s overarching critique of materialism and the dehumanizing effects of business culture.
“Sag Harbor,” a semi-autobiographical novel by Colson Whitehead, depicts the African American beach enclave in Long Island during the 1980s.
The narrative focuses on Benji Cooper, a teenager discovering his identity amidst the backdrop of a community that offers a unique perspective of African American life.
Whitehead’s novel is both a coming-of-age story and a vivid portrait of a particular time and place on Long Island that often goes unrepresented in mainstream media.
For those interested in the post-World War II era, Mark Mills’ “The Whaleboat House” unfolds in a small Long Island town in 1947.
When a young woman’s body washes up on the shore, Assistant District Attorney Tom Killian takes on the case.
The investigation leads Killian through a labyrinth of local secrets, shedding light on the personal struggles of the town’s residents in the aftermath of the war.
Rumaan Alam’s “Leave the World Behind” offers a contemporary take on Long Island, focusing on a Brooklyn family’s vacation in a remote corner of the island.
When the homeowners—an older couple—unexpectedly return due to a blackout in the city, the two families confront uncertainties that mirror the anxiety of our current age.
The novel is a powerful examination of class, race, and the unsettling realities of a modern world in crisis.
Rounding out this list, Christopher Bollen’s “Orient” is a modern thriller that unfolds in the eponymous Orient, a remote community on the North Fork of Long Island.
When a series of mysterious deaths disturb the quiet town, various characters with intersecting lives set out to uncover the truth.
Bollen’s intricate plot and the atmospheric setting make “Orient” a gripping read that paints a moody and suspenseful picture of Long Island’s less-traveled roads.
These novels not only provide engrossing narratives but also offer a literary journey through Long Island’s complex social fabric.
From Gatsby’s extravagant parties to the subtle unease of a modern-day vacation gone awry, Long Island continues to be a fertile ground for storytelling, revealing many facets of the human condition.
Whether through the lens of opulence or the trials of everyday life, these works present a compelling view of this storied American locale.