Born and raised in Topeka (which appears in some fashion in all of his works), novelist, essayist, and poet Ben Lerner is one of the most celebrated writers of his generation—a National Book Award finalist, Fulbright Scholar, and Guggenheim and MacArthur fellow.

In conjunction with his visit as the Cockefair Writer in Residence at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, he reads from his newly released book, the haunting family drama The Topeka School. Lerner, a distinguished professor of English at Brooklyn College, then discusses his craft and career in a conversation with Angela Elam of public radio’s New Letters on the Air.

The event is co-presented by the Carolyn Benton Cockefair Chair at UMKC, the UMKC English Department, and the Writers at Work Round Table.