Jhumpa Lahiri

Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Jhumpa Lahiri discusses her latest collection of stories set in Rome. Topics include exploring boundaries and trust, embracing Italian and exploring language, a traumatic incident and finding safety, exploring the darker aspects of Rome, and the challenges of translation.

Jhumpa Lahiri, author of 'Roman Stories', explores themes of identity and belonging in her new book. She discusses the influence of Alberto Moravia, the significance of names in writing, and the deep connection to Rome as home and identity.

Join Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jhumpa Lahiri, renowned for her works like "Interpreter of Maladies" and "The Namesake," as she delves into the complexities of language and family. Lahiri shares how her upbringing across different cultures shaped her identity and writing style. She reflects on her mother's profound influence and the bittersweet nature of grief, alongside the inspiration drawn from her life in Rome. Explore themes of solitude, the art of observation, and the transformative power of writing that connects her to ephemeral moments.

Author, teacher, and translator Jhumpa Lahiri joins Tyler for a conversation on identity, Rhode Island, writing as problem solving, reading across languages, the badness of book covers, Elena Ferrante, Bengali culture, the magic of Calcutta, Italian authors, Indian classical music, architectural influences, and much more. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video.  Other ways to connect Follow us on Twitter and Instagram Follow Tyler on Twitter  Email us: cowenconvos@mercatus.gmu.edu Subscribe at our newsletter page to have the latest Conversations with Tyler news sent straight to your inbox. 

Jhumpa Lahiri reads the short story "A Day," by William Trevor, and discusses it with The New Yorker's fiction editor, Deborah Triesman. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices