The Lonely Stories

A collection of essays about the joys and struggles of being alone by 22 literary writers including: Lev Grossman, Jhumpa Lahiri, Lena Dunham, Jesmyn Ward, Yiyun Li, and Anthony Doerr.


If you're feeling lonely or if you've ever felt unseen, if you're emboldened by solitude or secretly longing for it: Welcome to The Lonely Stories. This cathartic collection of personal essays illuminates what the experience is like for all of us. Some of these stories are heartbreaking, such as Jesmyn Ward's reckoning with the loss of her husband, Imani Perry's confrontation with chronic illness, and Dina Nayeri's reflection on immigrating to a foreign country. Others are witty, such as Lev Grossman's rueful tale of heading to the woods alone or Anthony Doerr's struggles with internet addiction. Still others celebrate solitude and the kind of clarity it can bring about, such as Claire Dederer's journey toward sobriety and Lidia Yuknavitch's sensual look at women and desire. Thoughtful and ultimately affirming, The Lonely Stories explores emotions that so often go undiscussed, and lets us all know that we're not alone.

Contributors include:
• Megan Giddings
• Claire Dederer
• Imani Perry
• Jeffery Renard Allen
• Maggie Shipstead
• Emily Raboteau
• Lev Grossman
• Lena Dunham
• Yiyun Li
• Anthony Doerr
• Helena Fitzgerald
• Maile Meloy
• Aja Gabel
• Jean Kwok
• Amy Shearn
• Peter Ho Davies
• Maya Shanbhag Lang
• Jhumpa Lahiri
• Jesmyn Ward
• Lidia Yuknavitch
• Dina Nayeri
• Melissa Febos