Saint Mazie

Saint Mazie was published in 2015 as a fictionalized account of the life of Mazie Phillips, a real-life figure known as the Queen of the Bowery. Jami Attenberg drew inspiration from the archives of the New York Public Library, specifically the diaries of the actual Mazie, who spent her later years distributing money and assistance to the homeless residents of the Bowery in New York City. The novel utilizes a diary format and interviews to reconstruct her life during the Great Depression, blending historical record with imaginative narrative.

Attenberg sought to capture the grit and empathy of 1930s New York, crafting a voice that felt both period-authentic and immediate to contemporary readers. The book was well-received for its compassionate character study and its ability to elevate the story of a woman whose local celebrity was often overlooked by traditional history. Critics frequently highlighted the research behind the prose, noting how the author successfully balanced the mythic status Mazie achieved in her lifetime with the personal vulnerability of a woman navigating a difficult era.