Anthologies#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| n+1 Issue 1: Negation |
2004 |
Buy |
| n+1 Issue 9: Bad Money |
2010 |
Buy |
| n+1 Issue 10: Self-Improvement |
2010 |
Buy |
| Occupy!: Scenes from Occupied America |
2011 |
Buy |
| n+1 Issue 24: New Age |
2015 |
Buy |
Non-Fiction#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Diary of a Very Bad Year |
2010 |
Buy |
| Raising Raffi: The First Five Years |
2022 |
Buy |
Standalone Novels#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| All the Sad Young Literary Men |
2008 |
Buy |
| A Terrible Country |
2018 |
Buy |
Keith Gessen was born in Moscow and emigrated to the United States as a child, an experience that shapes much of his writing. He co-founded the literary magazine n+1 in 2004, which became one of the most influential small publications of its generation, blending cultural criticism with political essays and fiction.
His novels draw on the world of young intellectuals navigating ambition, identity, and politics. A Terrible Country, his second novel, follows an American graduate student who returns to Moscow to care for his aging grandmother, and it pulls directly from Gessen’s own dual cultural identity. His non-fiction, including Raising Raffi, shows a willingness to be vulnerable and self-deprecating on the page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books has Keith Gessen written?
Keith Gessen has written nine books across three series.
What was Keith Gessen's first book?
Keith Gessen’s first book is n+1 Issue 1: Negation, published in 2004.
What is Keith Gessen best known for?
Gessen is best known as a co-founder of the literary journal n+1 and for his novels All the Sad Young Literary Men and A Terrible Country. His non-fiction memoir Raising Raffi also gained attention for its honest, often funny account of early parenthood.