The US literature scene is quick to trumpet Lauren Groff as one of its greatest living writers, and in this case it’s not simply an American bent towards braggadocio. It’s truly a joy to be alive at the same time as someone whose work is so consistently excellent while never obvious. I’m late to the party, having devoured Groff’s back catalogue since her astounding 2021 novel Matrix, concerning a 12th-century prioress who was a visionary.
Groff’s latest offering, Brawler, is a collection of nine short stories showcasing her absolute mastery of prose and ability to conjure atmosphere by describing glimmers from the corner of your eye. Brawler’s blurb promises these brief tales explore the “ceaseless battle” between the light and dark in each human heart, but these are also murkier stories of moral greyness illuminated by a flashbulb moment of clarity by the author.
