“Bradshawwasafamouslycharmingman,andhislounge-lizardurbanityfullysuffuseshisprose.Thisnewanthologyisanecessarybookforallmenandwomenofletters.“--MartinAmisAcollectionofmagazinewriterJonBradshaw’sessentialwritings,TheOceanisClosedrediscoversamemorabletalent,andoffersusashadowrealitytotheestablishedliterarycanonofthemid-century.Withdrollwitandkeenintelligence,Bradshaw’scinematicprosebringsthe’70stovibrantlife--fromtheluridpick-upscenesathotspotslikeMaxwell’sPluminNewYork,andtheBeverlyHillsHotelinL.A.,tofull-bodiedportraitsofliteraryfiguressuchasW.H.AudenandTomStoppard;affectionateprofilesofhustlersandconmensuchasBobbyRiggsandMinnesotaFats,tochillingreportageaboutstreetgangsintheBronx,terrorisminGermany,andmercenaryfreedomfightersinIndia.JonBradshaw,amanoftremendouspersonalcharm,goodhumorandruggedbeauty,wasaliteraryconcoctionofhisowndevising:themagazinewriterasworld-wearytravelerandmanabouttown.AdoredbyBritishroyalty,magazineeditors,movieexecutives,andprofessionalmercenaries,alike,BradshawfirstmadeasplashinLondonduringtheSwingingSixties.PalswiththelikesofAnnaWintour,TimothyLeary,GoreVidal,andMartinAmis,hiscareerflourishedatatimewhenmagazineswereatthecenteroftheculturalconversation,deliveringstoriesthatweretalkedaboutforweeks.Fortwentyyears,hecutadistinctfigureinthisworld,beforehisuntimelydeath.Aforgottenmasteroflongformmagazinewriting,Bradshawisripeforrediscoveryasoneofthesharpestchroniclersofhisage.
