I took a course on the philosophical novel, taught by Maria Němcová Banerjee, an expert on Milan Kundera’s work, and began to think about how novels engage intellectual traditions, how they can make use of and even serve as a form of philosophy.

The magic trick of “Perfection,” like “Things” before it, is to reveal readers to themselves—gently, in the way a therapist might encourage a patient to arrive at an unflattering truth. This original misapprehension might not be your fault, but it is your responsibility, Latronico suggests. You, contemporary reader, are the victim of poor training.... See more