James Ellroy and the Public Library

Not safe for work- Real L. A. Sleaze

James Ellroy credits the public libraries of Los Angeles County as the basis of his writing. He shelved books at the public library. In a speech at the Library of Congress in 2019¹ he declared:

“I am a product of the L.A. Public County Library System.”

Ellroy’s "L.A. Quartet" novels, The Black Dahlia, The Big Nowhere, L.A. Confidential" and White Jazz have won numerous awards and are international best-sellers. His novel, American Tabloid, was Time magazine's Novel of the Year for 1995; his memoir, My Dark Places, was a Time Best Book and a New York Times Notable Book for 1997. His novel, The Cold Six Thousand, was a New York Times Notable Book in 2001.²

James Ellroy has written the "secret history" of the mid-to-late 20th century.

In a BylinerTV interview Walter Kirn, author of Blood Will Out, interviews James Ellroy. In the interview Ellroy credits the public library as the well-spring of his writing.

In a speech at the Library of Congress Ellroy exhorted people to read and use the public library.

In 2019 Ellroy spoke at the Library of Congress.³ In the Q.& A. he shouts out that people should read and use the public library. This presentation is available online at the Library of Congress website.⁴

1. James Ellroy: 2019 National Book Festival 2019 Library of Congress National Book Festival, Washington, D.C. August 31, 2019.

2. James Ellroy.

3. James Ellroy discussed "This Storm" at the 2019 Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. See on You Tube:

4. Ibid.