SEX AND THE CITY, by Candace Bushnell, was the book that inspired the eponymous series, which became one of the biggest hits on television in recent years. With over a million copies sold in the United States, SEX AND THE CITY tells the racy and entertaining stories of four friends in New York. Observing the trendy spots, the parties, what wealthy and socialites in New York wear, do, and say—and drawing inspiration from deeply personal experiences—Candace Bushnell fueled her Sex and the City column for years, published in The New York Observer. Interestingly, shortly after the end of her affair with the equally famous, handsome, and glamorous Ron Galotti, then editor of Vogue magazine, the journalist decided to compile 25 of her chronicles into a book, which later became the basis for the cult TV series. Inaugurating a new—and unromantic—perspective for women in their thirties, Bushnell makes extensive use of her alter ego, Carrie—as the author, a very blonde, Balzacian writer from Connecticut. Her hilarious and tumultuous romance with Mr. Big—a character who bears many similarities to the writer's ex, Galotti—provides the basis for the unfolding romantic adventures of the protagonist and her loyal friends, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte. An almost anthropological and highly entertaining account of the sexual and romantic behavior of women in their thirties, SEX AND THE CITY is an unforgettable and groundbreaking book that created some of the most daring and entertaining characters in television history. Candace Bushnell, at 43, became one of New York's most popular journalists with her column "Sex and the City," published in The New York Observer. The author of the novel Four Blondes, which reached the top U.S. bestseller lists, moved to Manhattan at 18 and never left her adopted city, of which she became one of its finest chroniclers. "Sex and the City encapsulates the frenetic atmosphere of New York with incredible originality." - Washington Post Book World "A groundbreaking book with a realism that rivals Tom Wolfe's The Bonfire of the Vanities." - The Wall Street Journal "Candace Bushnell is a shrewd and mischievous observer of her world immersed in Chateau Latour." - Time "The author is a brilliant stylist who exposes the ills of high society." - Newsday "Hilarious. Candace Bushnell is an author of exquisite style, possessed of a mischievous wit and a keen understanding of human behavior." - People "Candace Bushnell is a brilliant writer." - Los Angeles Times "Fascinating and unforgettable." - Kirkus Reviews "Addictive. A collection of witty and socially relevant sketches." - Elle
