Victor Lodato Reads Denis Johnson
Sep 01, 2025•1 hr 31 min
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Summary
In this episode, Victor Lodato reads Denis Johnson's poignant story, 'The Largesse of the Sea Maiden,' which delves into themes of death, regret, and the elusive quest for connection amidst life's mundanities and mystical moments. Lodato and host Deborah Treisman then discuss Johnson's distinctive voice, the story's unique structure, and its balance of bleakness and lyrical beauty. They explore the author's influence, the narrative's dark humor, and the profound role of storytelling in finding meaning.Episode description
Victor Lodato joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “The Largesse of the Sea Maiden,” by Denis Johnson, which was published in The New Yorker in 2014. Lodato is a playwright and the author of the novels “Edgar and Lucy,” “Mathilda Savitch,” the winner of the PEN USA Award for fiction, and “Honey,” which came out in 2024. He has been publishing fiction and nonfiction in The New Yorker since 2012.
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