Benjamin Moser

Benjamin Moser is a prolific American author and translator. Born in Houston, Texas in 1975, he is best known for his book Why This World (2009), a biography of Clarice Lispector, and Sontag: Her Life and Work (2020). He is also a Founding Editor at New Directions Publishers, as well as the co-editor of The Oxford Companion to Andre Gide.

Moser first came to prominence as the editor of a comprehensive selection of Clarice Lispector’s works, which was published by New Directions in 2009. He worked extensively with the Nobel Prize-winning writer for seven years before the book was published and was awarded the Oxford-Weidenfeld Translation Prize for his work on the project.

Moser is also a respected translator. His translations have been awarded the Harvill Secker Translation Prize, the PEN Translation Prize, the Scott Moncrieff Prize, and the Warburg Prize. His translations of works by W. G. Sebald are widely acclaimed, and he is currently working on a new translation of Clarice Lispector’s final novel, A Hora da Estrela (The Hour of the Star).

Moser’s writing has been widely praised for its clarity and insight. His 2009 biography of Clarice Lispector was recognized as one of the most important biographies of the 20th century for its exploration of Lispector’s impact on the world of literature. His 2020 book, Sontag: Her Life and Work, was praised for its illuminating and nuanced portrait of the iconic feminist writer and thinker.

In addition to his editorial and translation work, Moser is also a noted essayist and journalist. He has written for The New Yorker, The Paris Review, The New Republic, and The London Review of Books, among other outlets. His essays often focus on topics such as literature, culture, aesthetics, gender, and politics.

In addition to his written work, Moser has also appeared as a cultural commentator on various international news channels. He has been a recurring guest on the BBC World Service, and he is a regular panelist at the New York Public Library’s LIVE From the NYPL series.

Benjamin Moser is an accomplished author, translator, and editor whose influence has been felt in the literary world for more than two decades. His insights into the works of Clarice Lispector, Susan Sontag, and other major figures in literature, culture, and politics make him one of the preeminent commentators on the modern world.