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Intelligence Squared · 2026-05-16 · 37 min · 4,817 words

Love, Loss and Mourning Paul Auster, with Siri Hustvedt

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Welcome to Intelligence Squared, where great minds meet. I'm producer Mia Sorenti. On today's episode, the novelist, essayist and poet Siri Hutzford sits down with Mithalie Rao to discuss her new book, Ghost Stories. It's a deeply personal reflection and memoir on mourning, memory, and her life with the late writer, Paul Oster.

Let's join our host, Maitha Lee Rao, now with more. Welcome to Intelligence Squared. I'm Maitha Lee Rao. Today I'm honored to be speaking to Siri about her new book, Ghost Stories. Welcome to Intelligence Squared.

Thank you so much for having me. Siri, I first just want to offer my condolences for your loss. I first read your husband's writing more than 20 years ago when I first moved to New York, and I will always associate his work with New York and the wonderful formative years I spent there. Ghost Stories is a remarkable book.

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