Chad Harbach — The Brightness - with Jessica M. Goldstein — at Conn Ave
Chad Harbach discusses *The Brightness*, his much-anticipated follow-up to *The Art of Fielding*, in conversation with journalist and humorist Jessica M. Goldstein. The novel follows Pella and her best friend, Irma, as they leave the sheltered world of Westish College and face turbulent relationships, artistic and intellectual ambitions, political controversy, grief, love, and the difficult choices of early adulthood.
Pella, recently graduated and engaged to her longtime boyfriend, sees her plans unravel during a chaotic wedding weekend on Block Island before she begins an unexpected new life in New York City. Meanwhile, Irma’s involvement in a politically charged campus prank threatens her future. The novel explores the uncertainty of one’s twenties through vivid, complicated characters and an energetic, funny, deeply human story about passion, ambition, friendship, and loss.
Harbach is the author of *The Brightness* and *The Art of Fielding*, which have been translated into more than 20 languages. He is a founding editor of *n+1* and edited the essay collection *MFA vs. NYC*. He lives in northern California with his son and dog.
Goldstein’s writing has appeared in *The New York Times*, *The Washington Post*, Vulture, *Marie Claire*, and other publications. She also writes for McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. Her debut novel, *Retro*, was published in June and longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. She writes the weekly Substack newsletter “The Retro Report” and lives in Washington, D.C.
When: November 23, 2026
Showtimes: 7:00 p.m.
Format: Chad Harbach in conversation with Jessica M. Goldstein; a livestream link is also provided.
Tickets: Free
Seating: First come, first served.
Venue: Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008.
Accessibility: To request accommodations or ask about accessibility, email events@politics-prose.com, ideally at least one week before the event. The venue will make an effort to accommodate requests submitted up to the event time.
Related book: *The Brightness: A Novel* is available in hardcover for $32.00. It was published October 27, 2026, with ISBN 9780316455695.