Jonathan Lethem: Dissident Gardens

'The past is a mosaic; we make it out of present materials.'

Jonathan Lethem’s latest book Dissident Gardens (Cape) tells, in a ‘torrent of potent voices, searing ironies, popculture allusions, and tragicomic complexities’ the story of three generations of a radical New York family, at the same time painting a vivid portrait of the American Century.

Jonathan Lethem was in conversation with Benjamin Markovits, author of A Quiet Adjustment and named by Granta as one of their Best Young British Novelists of 2013.

Jonathan Lethem's Dissident Gardens was Radio 4's Book at Bedtime. He's written a post on the Radio 4 blog about the music that has influenced his writing. Catch up with his last visit to the bookshop on our podcast.