Jesse Ball

Jesse Ball is an American absurdist author of more than fifteen books, including nine novels, books of poetry, short fiction, and nonfiction. In 2017, Granta named him one of the Best Young American Novelists.

Jesse Ball was born in Port Jefferson, New York. He grew up in a middle-class Irish-Sicilian family. His mother worked in libraries, while his father was employed in Medicaid. Ball has a brother, Abram, who was born with Down's syndrome.

Jesse Ball graduated from Port Jefferson High School and attended Vassar College. Ball continued his education at Columbia University, earning an MFA and launching his literary career.

His early work garnered attention and support, leading to the publication of his first volume, March Book (2004). His career progressed with notable novels like Samedi the Deafness (2007) and The Way Through Doors (2009).

In 2008, Ball received the Paris Review's Plimpton Prize for his novella The Early Deaths of Lubeck, Brennan, Harp & Carr. He has been compared to Jorge Luis Borges and Italo Calvino for his spare style of writing.

His novel Silence Once Begun (2014) explores the mysterious Narito Disappearances in Japan, focusing on Oda Sotatsu's vow of silence during his imprisonment and trial. The novel delves into themes of conviction, love, and the complexities of truth.

Ball has received significant recognition for his work, including being long-listed for the National Book Award for A Cure for Suicide.

He was a finalist for the NYPL Young Lion Prize for Silence Once Begun. His thought-provoking opinions and creative narratives have made him a distinctive voice in contemporary literature.

His novel The Divers' Game was listed as one of The New Yorker's Best Books of 2019. The book examines a divided society and the normalization of violence.

Ball's accolades include the Guggenheim Fellowship, the Creative Capital Award, and the Berlin Prize from the American Academy in Berlin.

Jesse Ball has lived in Chicago since 2007 and has taught at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Photo credit: Annette Hornischer