The Great Read: The Dark Secrets of the Writer Behind ‘Train Dreams’
An adaptation of Denis Johnson’s novella arrives at the same time as a new biography, unlocking one of his best-loved and least-understood books.
The New York Times
The Great Read

December 2, 2025, 2:01 p.m. Eastern time

On weekdays and Sundays, we recommend one piece of exceptional writing from The Times — a narrative or essay that takes you someplace you might not expect to go.

A photo illustration splicing the right side of a man’s face with handwritten text with red editing marks.

Photo illustration by Mike McQuade

The Dark Secrets of the Writer Behind ‘Train Dreams’

An adaptation of Denis Johnson’s novella arrives at the same time as a new biography, unlocking one of his best-loved and least-understood books.

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