An intimate history of America’s first publicly funded artists’ housing project, the artists who lived there, and the transformation of New York’s West Village across five decades. Westbeth Artists Housing was founded in 1970 to provide affordable housing for artists and their families.

This book provides a VERY detailed account of this interesting and unique housing project, including what happens when a group of people start to get old together. It does this through personal anecdotes. I can see how this book would be interesting for those who were involved. For me it was a bit dense, with the wider story told through that of many, many individuals. I can see people who were involved in that scene really enjoying it.

Excruciatingly detailed description of suicide in the first few pages. I could not continue much past that and do believe there should be trigger warnings.

This was a great book about a culture I never knew existed. This book should do well with anyone who is interested in artistic endeavors.

This is a history of the Westbeth artists' collective, a fixture in New York's Greenwich Village for decades. It provides affordable housing for those in the arts and is a community unto itself, as well as having been home to famous artists, writers, photographers, dancers, and musicians. Former and current residents recall their lives at Westbeth; there is humor and tragedy. There's a mysteriousness to Westbeth as well as questions that will never be answered. Excellent read for those in the arts.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.