Answer
Published in 1956, Nelson Algren's "A Walk on the Wild Side" unveils a gritty depiction of the underbelly of New Orleans during the Great Depression. Through the haunting narrative of Dove Linkhorn, a naïve country boy entangled in the city's seedy underworld, Algren unflinchingly explores themes of poverty, exploitation, and the allure of self-destruction, leaving an indelible mark on American literature.