Ben Lerner is an acclaimed American poet, novelist, and critic. He was born in Topeka, Kansas, in 1979, to therapist parents. From a young age, Lerner demonstrated a keen interest and talent in literature, which would eventually lead him to become a prominent figure in American letters.
Lerner's literary career began in earnest with the publication of his first book of poetry, "The Lichtenberg Figures," in 2004. This collection of sonnets received significant critical acclaim, earning him the Hayden Carruth prize and a place on Library Journal's list of the year's twelve best books of poetry. The book was also translated into German and published in Germany in 2010, a translation that won the "Preis der Stadt Münster für internationale Poesie" in 2011, making Lerner the first American to receive this honor.
In addition to "The Lichtenberg Figures," Lerner has published three other poetry collections: "Angle of Yaw" (2006), "Mean Free Path" (2010), and "The Lights" (n.d.). His poetry is known for its intellectual depth, experimental form, and exploration of themes such as politics, philosophy, and the nature of language. Lerner's work has been compared to that of renowned poets such as John Ashbery and Susan Howe.
Alongside his poetry, Lerner has also achieved success as a novelist. His first novel, "Leaving the Atocha Station" (2011), received widespread critical acclaim and won the Believer Book Award. His subsequent novels, "10:04" (2014) and "The Topeka School" (2019), have also been well-received by critics and readers alike. Lerner's prose is characterized by its introspective, cerebral style and its exploration of themes such as art, identity, and contemporary culture.
Lerner has also been recognized for his work as a critic and essayist. His collection of essays, "The Hatred of Poetry" (2016), received critical acclaim for its insightful and provocative exploration of the role of poetry in contemporary society. Lerner has also written essays and reviews for publications such as The New Yorker, The London Review of Books, and The Paris Review.
In addition to his work as a writer, Lerner has taught at several universities, including the California College of the Arts, the University of Pittsburgh, and Brooklyn College. He has also been a Fulbright Scholar and a Guggenheim Fellow, and in 2016 he was named a Distinguished Professor of English at Brooklyn College.
Lerner's literary achievements are all the more impressive given his relatively young age. Still in his forties, he has already established himself as one of the most important and influential writers of his generation. His work has helped to shape the direction of American literature and has inspired a new generation of writers to explore the possibilities of experimental form and intellectual inquiry.