Duluth by Gore Vidal.

I second Cold Comfort.

The Gore Vidal book is about Duluth, Georgia.

My article "Snively's Road" covers Duluth history particularly that of its parks and boulevards and one its longest serving mayors. It can be downloaded for free from the Minnesota Historical Society site:

http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/54/v54i04p146-163.pdf

I second Cold Comfort and the Superior Hiking Trail Guide.

For a soap operay take on Duluth, a book (there are many) about the Congdon murder at Glensheen is a must.

I'd argue that in order to understand the real Duluth, you need to go to Superior, Wisconsin. With that in mind, you should read some short stories by Anthony Bukoski.

"The entire city of Superior, my neighborhood included, is a classroom for the study of failure. The curriculum for the Study and Analysis of Heartache comes from our citizenry's heavy drinking. We're Scandinavians, Slavs, and Indians of all makes and models. The curriculum is also tied to our living on the shore of the largest freshwater lake in the world. Lake Superior alters our weather for the worst, makes us ugly. Step out the door, see old newspapers blow down the streets in a lake wind, wipe dust from your eyes, go to the Palace Bar, Isle of Capri, Captain Cliff's Night Club, Lost in the '50s, Al's Waterfront Tavern. Find the locals lined up for an eye-opener at eight in the morning, and that, to a sensitive former academic like me, is Hard Knocks. When you can't find work and need to get yourself more depressed, listen in the hallway of your run-down flat for the neighbor guy to strike his wife or she him. Add gray skies. Add fog, and in winter and into late spring, throw in bitter cold, and that's how it is in Superior, Wisconsin, at the Head of the Lakes. Every day I take a refresher course in how to be a loser."

- Anthony Bukoski, "A Philosophy of Dust"

I would urge you to buy books about Duluth at your local Duluth bookseller, the Bookstore at Fitgers. That way, you can support a local business that employs Duluthians and pays taxes to the city of Duluth, while mentally wrapping your head around Duluth.

Brian Freeman's mysteries are set in Duluth. And Danielle Sosin's novel, The Long Shining Waters is set in and on Lake Superior...

Come for a month--any month, even January and I think you'll want to stay here forever.  (Though August here is magic.  You should come back in the summer.) It happened to me!  I'd recommend some poetry by resident poet Louis Jenkins.  Happy reading and happy trails!

First, thanks to those who mentioned Zenith and other X-comm books. I appreciate the plug (and books can be purchased at www.x-communication.org.

Last year I proudly published photographer Dennis O'Hara's "Picture Duluth," filled with over 200 modern, full color photos of Duluth: nature, architecture, weather, waterfront, etc. It is a tour from east to west, and includes maps.

Good luck with the project!

I'd love to help with your project if I can. I love this town so very much. Email me if you want.

I have to recommend the archives of Slim Goodbuzz - each bar review is a perfect little jewel.

The Will and the Way should make for some riveting reading.

Who knew there were so many great books written about my home town? And I am happy to be on this list. I second (third, fourth) Cold Comfort by Barton Sutter. And my own book, too, of course.

All great selections. To further put you in the mood, check out these historical photographs of Duluth.

Northeast Minnesota Historical Center photographs at the Minnesota Digital Library

Adam, 

I look forward to hearing more about your work in the coming months.  

A one thing about Duluth that hasn't been specifically mentioned - and that you may want to look into - is the significant immigrant populations that have settled and formed the cultural landscape of the area. Though likely referenced in many of the works listed above, one of the more significant influence has been the Scandinavian immigrants who made this place home.  

A recent read that draws heavily on Scandinavians in the Duluth area is:
"The Opposite of Cold: The Northwoods Finnish Sauna Tradition" 
by Michael Nordskog and Arron Hautala

This read would be especially nice after a warm sauna on a cold January day.  See if you can even join one of the locals for a traditional wood-fired sauna.

Glad to read a lot of folks endorsing the Superior Hiking Trail book. For even more great Duluth hikes, check out Hiking the North Shore: 50 fabulous day hikes in Minnesota's spectacular Lake Superior region. Depending on where you draw the lines, 10-11 of the hikes are in Duluth.