Jay McInerney: From 'Bright Lights' to Pandemic's End

Jay McInerney, author of the iconic 1984 novel "Bright Lights, Big City," has released "See You on the Other Side," concluding a four-book series that began in 1992.

The series, which tracked the marriage of Russell and Corrinne Calloway, has spanned decades of New York's cultural and economic shifts, from "Wall Street" to the "Succession" era and now, the Covid-19 pandemic.

McInerney, 71, reflects on his own life changes, having traded a hedonistic youth for a focus on fitness. His latest novel captures a more "autumnal" phase of growing older in downtown Manhattan.

The narrative explores themes of art, money, class, and power against the backdrop of seismic events like Sept. 11 and the pandemic, reflecting social New York's cessation and eventual re-emergence.

Reflecting on his past fame and the vibrant literary scene he once embodied, McInerney notes the changing landscape of New York City and his own aging alongside his characters.