Picture an American storyteller who weaves math, mystery, and modern paranoia into spellbinding tales—meet Jessi Jezewska Stevens! This mathematician-turned-novelist crafts fiction that probes identity and reality in the digital age, earning her a spot as a fresh voice in contemporary literature. From New York to Geneva, her sharp prose and playful narratives captivate readers with their wit and depth.
The Making of Jessi Jezewska Stevens
Born in the United States, Jessi Jezewska Stevens blended analytical rigor with creative flair from an early age. With a BA in Mathematics from Middlebury College, she approached problem-solving like a puzzle, a skill that later shaped her storytelling. Her pivot to writing came with an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University, where she honed her craft and began teaching. Stevens’s unique path—merging logic with imagination—set the stage for her distinctive literary career.
Jessi Jezewska Stevens’s Unforgettable Stories
Stevens’s debut novel, The Exhibition of Persephone Q (2020), is a New York Times Editors’ Choice that dives into post-9/11 Manhattan, where protagonist Percy grapples with identity theft and self-discovery amid a haunting art exhibit. Her second novel, The Visitors (2022), blends economic collapse with speculative elements, as an Occupy Wall Street protestor encounters a cryptic garden gnome, exploring late-capitalist dread with sardonic humor. Her 2024 short story collection, Ghost Pains, a finalist for the 2025 Story Prize, spans Europe and America, weaving tales of alienation and absurdity with elegant prose. Stevens’s style—marked by precise language, psychological depth, and a knack for defamiliarizing the everyday—makes her work both intimate and unsettling.
Her stories often tackle themes of digital identity, climate anxiety, and the fragility of perception, reflecting her fascination with how systems shape human experience. Drawing from her math background, Stevens constructs narratives with the elegance of a proof, balancing structure with surreal twists. Her essays and criticism, published in outlets like The New Yorker, The Paris Review, and Foreign Policy, further showcase her versatility, tackling European culture and climate movements with incisive clarity.
Why Jessi Jezewska Stevens Matters
Jessi Jezewska Stevens is redefining contemporary fiction by blending intellectual rigor with emotional resonance. Her ability to capture the unease of modern life—whether through a hacked identity or a collapsing economy—resonates with readers navigating an uncertain world. As a teacher and cultural commentator, she inspires new writers to embrace risk and explore the irrational. Her growing influence, underscored by fellowships from the Fulbright Commission and the Robert B. Silvers Foundation, signals a lasting impact on literature.
- Birthplace: United States
- Key Works: The Exhibition of Persephone Q (2020), The Visitors (2022), Ghost Pains (2024)
- Awards: 2025 Story Prize Finalist, Fulbright Scholar, Robert B. Silvers Grant Recipient
Ready to lose yourself in a world where reality tilts just a degree off-center? Grab The Exhibition of Persephone Q or Ghost Pains and dive into Jessi Jezewska Stevens’s brilliant, boundary-pushing fiction!