John Burnham Schwartz' discusses his fourth novel, *The Commoner*, which is a tale inspired by the dramatic, real-life stories of the reigning empress and crown princess of Japan. It is a story of a brutally and controlled existence, at once hidden and exposed, and of a complex relationship between two isolated women. Schwartz' other novels include *Reservation Road* and *Bicycle Days*.
JOHN BURNHAM SCHWARTZ is the author of the novels The Commoner, Claire Marvel, Bicycle Days, and Reservation Road, which has been made into a film based on his screenplay, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Ruffalo, and Jennifer Connelly. His work has been translated into twenty languages, and has appeared in many publications, including The New Yorker and The New York Times. He lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife and their son.