Ben Lerner's novel The Topeka School explores language, identity and American society through multiple perspectives

Published by Granta in December 2019, Ben Lerner's third novel, The Topeka School, delves into the impact of language on identity and social exclusion through the lives of four characters. Central to the story is Adam Gordon, a talented high school debater, alongside Darren, a peer facing marginalization due to learning disabilities. Adam's parents, Jonathan and Jane, both work as clinical psychologists, adding depth to the narrative. The book mirrors societal rifts and draws connections to literary giants such as Shakespeare's Hamlet, William Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury, and David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest. It critiques the appropriation of cultural forms by white American men and ends with adult Adam at a demonstration, hinting at themes of solidarity. Additionally, it explores the interplay between fiction and nonfiction, inspired by the works of Walt Whitman and John Rawls.