From $300 and a Bottle of Cologne to Literary Success: Rumaan Alam's NYC Journey

From $300 and a Bottle of Cologne to Literary Success: Rumaan Alam's NYC Journey

<img src="https://pyxis.nymag.com/v1/imgs/4ab/a6d/8f57fedb9660e0b8b96667dead1e2f742c-Rumaan-Alam-08.rhorizontal.w700.jpg" width="700" height="467" fetchpriority="high" alt="Rumaan Alam with his then-boyfriend in 1999">

Rumaan Alam, the acclaimed author of Leave the World Behind, shares his humble beginnings in New York City, where he moved with just a bottle of Acqua di Giò cologne and $300. He dreamt of a career in publishing, but his early days were far from glamorous, filled with cramped apartments, cheap meals, and a desperate search for affordable clothing.

Alam's first apartment in Fort Greene was a cramped two-bedroom brownstone conversion, where he slept on the floor and ate potato chips for dinner. He secured a job at Condé Nast after a chance encounter with Kim France, then the editor-in-chief of Lucky magazine.

He was a young, aspiring writer, trying to make his way in the competitive world of New York publishing. His journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, determination, and a little bit of luck.

He shares anecdotes of his time working at Lucky, where he learned the ropes of the industry and developed his discerning taste for fashion. He recalls the thrill of discovering affordable fashion finds at Century 21 and the frustration of being unable to afford the more luxurious items he coveted at Barney's.

Alam's story is a reminder that even in the most demanding city in the world, dreams can be achieved through hard work and a little bit of creativity.