Two of my favorite books are On the Road and Gentleman in Moscow. I also just finished Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell and really enjoyed it. I think what I loved about all 3 books are that they’re about a tramp-like or down on their luck intellectual telling a story kind of through the lens of a romantic city. On the Road has New York and San Francisco, Gentleman in Moscow has Moscow (through a hotel window) and Down and Out in Paris and London has Paris. I think I also love that these books all take place between the 20s and the 50s.
I think it would be especially cool to find a book like this set in a non American or European city as well. I guess more concise way of phrasing this would be a book taking place in the 20th century where the city its in is the most important character.
by rcollins303