In the most recent novel by Ben Lerner, titled “Transcription,” the protagonist accidentally drops his phone into the sink following a trip to Rhode Island for an important interview. Scheduled to interview Thomas, a 90-year-old mentor and the father of a university friend, known for his brilliance, the protagonist finds himself without a recording device but proceeds with the interview nonetheless. While the novel captures the dialogue that unfolds, the phone fails to do so.
Lerner, in a discussion on “Bookends with Mattea Roach,” shared that the protagonist revisits his alma mater and reminisces about his own experiences while preparing for what Thomas describes as a final interview – an “exit interview” marking Thomas’s last recorded conversation. The conversation delves into the power of fiction to convey truth and the duality of being an artist and a parent.
When asked about the protagonist’s reluctance to admit the lack of recording, Lerner suggests it could stem from a sense of regression in front of the esteemed teacher and a fascination with Thomas’s influence. The fear of losing Thomas’s final recorded words due to his advancing age might also drive the protagonist’s actions, showcasing a struggle to acknowledge mortality and fragility.
Exploring the theme of what fiction captures that other forms of recording may miss, Lerner highlights the role of humans as mediums through which messages are conveyed. He delves into the complexities arising from human-to-human transmission, where emotions and nuances can be better expressed than through conventional recordings.
Regarding the interplay between being a mentor and a father, Lerner reflects on his own experiences as an artist and a parent, pondering the tensions between artistic freedom and parental responsibility. He emphasizes the challenge of balancing the need for creative expression with the desire to be a dependable caregiver, particularly as children grow older and engage with their parents’ work.
Lerner’s work, characterized by a blend of irony and sincerity, aims to capture various facets of the human experience authentically. He notes that the irony present in his storytelling often leads back to sincerity, emphasizing that even in moments of apparent failure to capture voices accurately, the essence of the narrative remains intact, showcasing the transformative power of irony in conveying authenticity.