Joseph Mitchell may not be the most famous of the New Yorker's storied stable of writers, but his imprint is indelible on the magazine today. His subjects ranged from Bowery bums and street preachers to Mohawk Indians who helped build the great bridges and skyscrapers of the U.S. and Canada. In an elegant and clear style developed over years as a newspaperman, Mitchell relaxes with his subjects and allows them to tell their stories. Joseph Mitchell's New York City is long-gone, and that's what makes Up in the Old Hotel so vital.

Kevin Tiernan