In 'The Topeka School,' Ben Lerner crafts a poignant tapestry of a gifted high school debater grappling with identity, language, and the unsettling undercurrents of contemporary America. Set against the backdrop of Topeka, Kansas, the novel explores the intersection of personal and political turmoil during the late 1990s. As the protagonist navigates the complexities of adolescence, the story delves deep into the intricacies of communication and the power of words. With lyrical prose, Lerner invites readers to reflect on the nature of truth in a fractured society. Will the debates of youth prepare him for the challenges ahead, or will they unravel the very fabric of his understanding?
By Ben Lerner
Published: 2019
"‘Language is a kind of longing, a desire to connect with others, but it also separates us, changes us, and sometimes leaves us utterly alone.’"
A NEW YORK TIMES, TIME, GQ, Vulture, and WASHINGTON POST TOP 10 BOOK of the YEAR ONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S FAVORITE BOOKS OF THE YEAR ALSO NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY: Esquire, NPR, Vogue, Amazon, Kirkus, The Times (UK), Buzzfeed, Vanity Fair, The Telegraph (UK), Financial Times (UK), Lit Hub, The Times Literary Supplement (UK), The New York Post, Daily Mail (UK), The Atlantic, Publishers Weekly, The Guardian (UK), Electric Literature, SPY.com, and the New York Public Library From the award-winning author of 10:04 and Leaving the Atocha Station, a tender and expansive family drama set in the American Midwest at the turn of the century: a tale of adolescence, transgression, and the conditions that have given rise to the trolls and tyrants of the New Right Adam Gordon is a senior at Topeka High School, class of ’97. His mother, Jane, is a famous feminist author; his father, Jonathan, is an expert at getting “lost boys” to open up. They both work at a psychiatric clinic that has attracted staff and patients from around the world. Adam is a renowned debater, expected to win a national championship before he heads to college. He is one of the cool kids, ready to fight or, better, freestyle about fighting if it keeps his peers from thinking of him as weak. Adam is also one of the seniors who bring the loner Darren Eberheart—who is, unbeknownst to Adam, his father’s patient—into the social scene, to disastrous effect. Deftly shifting perspectives and time periods, The Topeka School is the story of a family, its struggles and its strengths: Jane’s reckoning with the legacy of an abusive father, Jonathan’s marital transgressions, the challenge of raising a good son in a culture of toxic masculinity. It is also a riveting prehistory of the present: the collapse of public speech, the trolls and tyrants of the New Right, and the ongoing crisis of identity among white men.
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“‘Language is a kind of longing, a desire to connect with others, but it also separates us, changes us, and sometimes leaves us utterly alone.’”
The Topeka School
By Ben Lerner
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Ben Lerner is an acclaimed American poet, novelist, and essayist known for his innovative approach to language and form. His notable works include the poetry collections 'The Lichtenberg Figures' and 'Angle of Yaw,' as well as the novels 'Leaving the Atocha Station,' '10:04,' and 'The Topeka School.' Lerner's writing often explores themes of identity, politics, and the act of perception, blending elements of fiction, poetry, and critical thought. His distinctive style combines a lyrical sensibility with a keen intellectual rigor, making him a prominent voice in contemporary literature.
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