David Bell embodies the American dream. At twenty-eight, he has become a highly successful television executive by surviving office intrigues, scandals, and lesser competitors. The images that flicker across American screens and the fantasies that captivate viewers are often his creation. However, David's dream begins to sour and turns into a nightmare. He longs for reality, to actually touch, feel, and capture what is real and authentic. Armed with a camera, he undertakes a reckless journey across America in search of a sense of his own and his country's past, present, and future. This forms the theme of "Americana," Don DeLillo's brilliant debut novel.