Episode 62: Erica Wagner, Novelist and Literary Editor

Erica Wagner's Wash is a historical novel that explores the life, inner consciousness, and relationships of Washington Roebling, the engineer who supervised construction of the Brooklyn Bridge after his father's death. The book shifts chronologically and uses modernist techniques to portray memory, subjectivity, and the pressures of monumental engineering work. Wagner, who previously wrote a nonfiction biography of Roebling, draws on deep research to render scenes such as the caisson work and Civil War service while using fiction to access emotional and interior moments. The novel also foregrounds the perspective of Emily Warren Roebling and experiments with narrative form, including the use of M dashes for dialogue and close third-person sections. It reflects on engineering, risk, and the human costs of large technological undertakings while attending to sensory and psychological detail.

Erica Wagner's Chief Engineer is a detailed nonfiction biography that examines the life and work of Washington Roebling, the engineer central to the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. Drawing on archival research, Roebling's own writings, and historical sources, the book traces his family background, Civil War service, and the technical and human challenges of building the bridge. Wagner situates Roebling's experiences within the larger context of 19th-century engineering innovation, exploring topics like caisson technology and compressed-air work. The biography provides factual grounding for the later novel Wash, offering readers an authoritative account of events, personalities, and the period's engineering practices. It highlights both Roebling's accomplishments and the personal costs of overseeing such a monumental project.

In Words Without Music, Philip Glass offers a candid memoir of his life as a composer, detailing his early training, collaborations, and the development of his minimalist aesthetic. He reflects on his working methods, relationships with other artists, and the cultural contexts that shaped his career, providing insight into creative practice. The book balances personal anecdote with thoughtful discussion of music's role in life and society, conveying the discipline and curiosity behind Glass's prolific output. It also serves as a meditation on the nature of artistic collaboration, inspiration, and the tensions between commercial success and experimental impulses. The memoir is valued by artists and readers interested in the creative process and the life of a major contemporary composer.

Published in 2001, 'Life of Pi' by Yann Martel tells the story of Piscine Molitor 'Pi' Patel, a teenage Indian boy from Pondicherry. After a shipwreck, Pi finds himself stranded on a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean with four wild animals: an orangutan, a zebra, a hyena, and a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. As the story unfolds, Pi must use his knowledge of animal behavior and his eclectic religious beliefs, which include Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam, to survive. The novel explores themes of spirituality, the conflict between man and nature, and the power of storytelling. Pi's journey is a metaphor for how one practices and maintains faith during life's challenges, and it raises questions about the nature of reality and how it is perceived and told.

David McCullough's 'The Great Bridge' tells the dramatic story of building the Brooklyn Bridge, which was the world's longest suspension bridge at the time. The book explores the challenges, innovations, and human stories behind this iconic structure, set against a backdrop of greed, corruption, and determination during the Age of Optimism. It delves into the lives of key figures like Washington Roebling and his wife Emily, who faced numerous setbacks during the fourteen-year construction period.

The Magician's Assistant follows Sabine, who has spent twenty years as the assistant and later the wife of the magician Parsifal. After Parsifal's sudden death, Sabine discovers that he had a false identity and a family in Nebraska that he had claimed were dead. As she navigates her grief, Sabine meets Parsifal's family and learns about his past, leading to a complex exploration of love, family dynamics, and personal identity. The novel takes Sabine from Los Angeles to the plains of Nebraska, where she finds unexpected connections and a path towards healing and self-discovery.

Carol Shields's Larry's Party traces the life of Larry Weller through a series of episodic chapters that explore his personal growth, relationships, and inner life. The novel is notable for its intimate character portrait and inventive structure, with each chapter examining different facets of Larry as he moves from youth into later success. Shields employs clear, empathetic prose to excavate the ordinary and extraordinary moments that shape a life. The book highlights themes of identity, family, and the everyday rituals that define us. Widely praised for its psychological depth, Larry's Party remains a standout in Shields's acclaimed body of work.

The Narrow Road to the Deep North tells the story of Dorrigo Evans, an Australian doctor who is captured by the Japanese during World War II and forced to work on the Burma Railway. The novel explores themes of love, loss, survival, and the psychological impact of war. It is a deeply personal and historical account, influenced by Flanagan's own father's experiences as a prisoner of war.