Cosmopolis (novel)
Cosmopolis is a novel by American writer Don DeLillo, published in 2003 by Scribner. It is DeLillo’s thirteenth novel.
The story follows Eric Packer, a 28-year-old billionaire and asset manager, as he travels across midtown Manhattan in a luxurious, high-tech stretch limousine to get a haircut. The car is described as spacious, bulletproof, marble-floored, and lined with screens—designed to block out street noise, though Packer notes this is not completely possible.
The journey is disrupted by various traffic jams: a presidential visit, a large anti-capitalist riot, and a funeral procession for a Sufi rap star. Along the way, Packer has several encounters with his wife and sexual liaisons with other women. He is also stalked by two men—a comical “pastry assassin” and a dangerous “credible threat.” Throughout the day, Packer loses enormous sums of money for his clients by betting against the yen.
Reviews were mixed. Some critics praised DeLillo’s sharp, stylish writing and intellectual edge; others found the plot contrived or the ideas overwhelming. In 2011, Canadian director David Cronenberg adapted the novel into a film starring Robert Pattinson as Packer. The movie premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012 and received a range of responses.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 18:53 (CET).