Masculinity in Contemporary New York Fiction argues that New York authors do not simply depict masculinity as a social and historical construction but seek to challenge the archetypal ideals of masculinity by writing counter-hegemonic narratives. What connects these contemporary New York writers is their employment of the one of the great figures in the history of literature: the fl neur. These authors take the fl neur from the shadows of the Manhattan streets and elevate this figure to the role of self-reflexive agent of male subjectivity. This book is an essential reference for those with an interest in gender studies and contemporary American fiction.