Ben Lerner was born in Topeka, Kansas. He has received fellowships from the Fulbright, Guggenheim, and MacArthur Foundations, among other honors. He is the author of three books of poetry (The Lichtenberg Figures, Angle of Yaw, and Mean Free Path), two novels (Leaving the Atocha Station and 10:04). and a work of criticism (The Hatred of Poetry). His most recent books are collaborations: Blossom (with Thomas Demand), The Polish Rider (with Anna Ostoya), and The Snows of Venice (with Alexander Kluge). He is Distinguished Professor of English at Brooklyn College.