Most Popular Books by Richard Ford

Frank Bascombe has a younger girlfriend and a job as a sportswriter. To many men of his age, thirty-eight, this would be a cause for optimism, yet Frank feels the pull of his inner despair and especially of his recent losses - his preferred career has ended, his wife has divorced him, and a tragic accident took his elder son. In the course of this Easter weekend, Frank will lose all the remnants of his familiar life, though he will emerge heroic with spirits soaring. This is a magnificent novel that propelled Richard Ford into the first rank of American writers.

From Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Ford: the final novel in the world of Frank Bascombe, one of the most indelible characters in American literature Over the course of four celebrated works of fiction and almost forty years, Richard Ford has crafted an ambitious, incisive, and singular view of American life as lived. Unconstrained, astute, provocative, often laugh-out-loud funny, Frank Bascombe is once more our guide to the great American midway. Now in the twilight of life, a man who has occupied many colorful lives--sportswriter, father, husband, ex-husband, friend, real estate agent--Bascombe finds himself in the most sorrowing role of all: caregiver to his son, Paul, diagnosed with ALS. On a shared winter odyssey to Mount Rushmore, Frank, in typical Bascombe fashion, faces down the mortality that is assured each of us, and in doing so confronts what happiness might signify at the end of days. In this memorable novel, Richard Ford puts on displays the prose, wit, and intelligence that make him one of our most acclaimed living writers. Be Mine is a profound, funny, poignant love letter to our beleaguered world.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FINALIST • The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Independence Day and The Sportswriter brings back the unforgettable Frank Bascombe in this astonishing meditation on modern-day America. A sportswriter and a real estate agent, husband and father—Frank Bascombe has been many things to many people. His uncertain youth behind him, we follow him through three days during the autumn of 2000, when his trade as a realtor on the Jersey Shore is thriving. But as a presidential election hangs in the balance, and a post-nuclear-family Thanksgiving looms before him, Frank discovers that what he terms “the Permanent Period” is fraught with unforeseen perils. An astonishing meditation on America today and filled with brilliant insights, The Lay of the Land is a magnificent achievement from one of the most celebrated chroniclers of our time. Also available in the Bascombe Trilogy: The Sportswriter and Independence Day

Frank Bascombe, in the aftermath of his divorce and the ruin of his career, has entered an ''Existence Period'' - selling real estate in New Jersey and mastering the high-wire act of normalcy. But over one Fourth of July weekend, Frank is called into sudden, bewildering engagement with life. Independence Day is a moving, peerlessly funny odyssey through America and through the layered consciousness of one of its most compelling literary incarnations, conducted by a novelist of extraordinary empathy and perception.

A quartet of masterful novellas that returns Richard Ford to the territory that sealed his reputation as an American master: the life of Frank Bascombe, hero of his Pulitzer Prize–winning novel Independence Day. Richard Ford introduced the world to his protean literary everyman, Frank Bascombe, aspiring novelist turned sportswriter turned real estate agent, in his 1986 masterpiece The Sportswriter. A lapidary account of the textures, sorrows and pleasures of one man’s ordinary life, it laid the groundwork for the Pulitzer Prize–winning Independence Day, published in 1996, followed by the last novel in the Bascombe trilogy, The Lay of the Land, published in 2006. Over a period of twenty years, the Bascombe novels deepened a portrait of one of the most unforgettable characters in American fiction, and in so doing gave readers an indelible portrait of America. Now in Let Me Be Frank With You, Ford returns to the territory that established him as an Updike for the contemporary era, in a quartet of novella-length Bascombe stories, set in in the aftermath and amid the calamitous circumstances of Hurricane Sandy. Of revisiting Bascombe, Ford says, “What draws me to writing Frank Bascombe is what’s always drawn me: he’s funny (and it’s thrilling to write things that are funny), but also he offers me the chance to write into the breach between what Henry James calls ‘bliss and bale’; in my own way, to connect ‘the things that help and the things that hurt’ and to find some kind of reconciling vocabulary for both. I always think that, when I’m writing Frank Bascombe, I have the chance to write about the most important things I know, and that’s always been irresistible.” A moving, peerlessly funny odyssey through America and through the layered consciousness of one of its most compelling literary incarnations, the four stories in Let Me Be Frank With You bear Bascombe’s unmistakable and now-famous imprint: a comic sensibility at odds with the minutiae of everyday human dismay and bewilderment; a plain-spoken acuity penetrating and expressing the shared wonder of modern existence; and a mordant relish and caution for all things American.

Only a storyteller as agile as Richard Ford could produce stories so rich and diverse on a single grand theme -- love, intimacy and their dramatic failures. With felicity, humour, insight and painful candour, A Multitude of Sins exposes our failure to be sincere, empathetic, patient, honest, passionate -- ultimately, to be loving -- to those we desire or should merely care for. In this fine collection, human relations, indeed our entire sense of right and wrong, are put into vivid and unforgettable play.

From American master Richard Ford, a memoir: his first work of nonfiction, a stirring narrative of memory and parental love How is it that we come to consider our parents as people with rich and intense lives that include but also exclude us? Richard Ford’s parents—Edna, a feisty, pretty Catholic-school girl with a difficult past; and Parker, a sweet-natured, soft-spoken traveling salesman—were rural Arkansans born at the turn of the twentieth century. Married in 1928, they lived “alone together” on the road, traveling throughout the South. Eventually they had one child, born late, in 1944. For Ford, the questions of what his parents dreamed of, how they loved each other and loved him become a striking portrait of American life in the mid-century. Between Them is his vivid image of where his life began and where his parents’ lives found their greatest satisfaction. Bringing his celebrated candor, wit, and intelligence to this most intimate and mysterious of landscapes—our parents’ lives—the award-winning storyteller and creator of the iconic Frank Bascombe delivers an unforgettable exploration of memory, intimacy, and love.

A tense and brutal yet moving tale unfolds on an uncharted hunting island in the Mississippi.

A landmark new collection of stories from Richard Ford that showcases his brilliance, sensitivity, and trademark wit and candor In Sorry for Your Trouble, Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times-bestselling author Richard Ford enacts a stunning meditation on memory, love and loss. “Displaced” returns us to a young man’s Mississippi adolescence, and to a shocking encounter with a young Irish immigrant who recklessly tries to solace the narrator’s sorrow after his father’s death. “Driving Up” follows an American woman’s late-in-life journey to Canada to bid good-bye to a lost love now facing the end of this life. “The Run of Yourself,” a novella, sees a New Orleans lawyer navigating the difficulties of living beyond his Irish wife’s death. And “Nothing to Declare” follows a man and a woman’s chance re-meeting in the New Orleans French Quarter, after twenty years, and their discovery of what’s left of love for them. Typically rich with Ford’s emotional lucidity and lyrical precision, Sorry for Your Trouble is a memorable collection from one of our greatest writers.

The landscape of Women with Men ranges from the northern plains of Montana to the streets of Paris and the suburbs of Chicago. The tragedies that stalk the characters are unfolded with an indelible wit and clarity. So merciless is Ford''s lingering gaze upon human, mostly male, weakness, so understanding his eye for the unravelling threads of human love, that this collection of novellas seems only to broaden the reputation and the following of one of the outstanding writers of our time.

A novel of a fracturing family in 1960 Montana, "full of prose that makes the reader shiver," by the New York Times-bestselling author of Rock Springs ( Chicago Sun-Times). When Joe Brinson was sixteen, his father moved the family to Great Falls, Montana. But the new start didn''t go quite as planned. Jerry Brinson is a golf pro to rich country club members, but then loses the job. In reaction, he joins a firefighting crew working in the mountains—as his wife becomes entangled in an affair with one of the businessmen from the club. Told from the point of view of Joe as a grown man looking back on those days in 1960, Wildlife is a "heartbreaking and compelling" novel about love, family, and the forces that test them to the breaking point by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Canada and The Sportswriter ( Philadelphia Inquirer). The basis for a film starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan, Wildlife is "a wise, humane, and disarmingly simple novel of domestic distress" ( Entertainment Weekly). "There is at the heart of this novel a deep nostalgia for that moment when a person recognizes a true perfection in the way things once were, before the onset of ruin and great change."— The New York Times Book Review

Ten "beautifully imagined and crafted stories" of the American West by the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Independence Day (Joyce Carol Oates). In these ten exquisite stories, Richard Ford explores the wind-scrubbed landscape of the American West and the guarded hopes and gnawing loneliness of the people who live there: a refugee from justice driving across Wyoming with his daughter and girlfriend in a stolen Mercedes; a boy watching his family dissolve in a night of tragicomic violence; and two men and a woman swapping hard-luck stories in a frontier bar as they try to sweeten their luck. In the tradition of Raymond Carver, Rock Springs is a masterpiece of taut narration, cleanly chiseled prose, and empathy so generous that it feels like a kind of grace. "The finest of these stories achieve luminous moments, moments with potential to change how the reader sees and thinks" ( The New York Times Book Review).

Roman om ganske almindelige mennesker og deres handlinger, når de befinder sig på randen af katastrofen. I 1956 er Dell en ung mand, som forsøger at forstå, hvorfor hans ganske ordinære forældre har begået et bankrøveri. For at undgå myndighederne flygter han og hans tvillingesøster fra Montana mod friheden og det ukendte Canada

In "The Letters of Richard Ford, 1797-1858," readers are afforded a unique glimpse into the intimate thoughts and correspondence of Richard Ford, an esteemed figure in 19th-century literature. The book comprises a curated collection of letters that not only document Ford''Äôs personal experiences and evolving worldview but also reflect the sociopolitical and cultural milieu of Victorian England. Ford''Äôs prose, characterized by its eloquence and introspective depth, showcases the literary style of a bygone era, while engaging with themes of identity, belonging, and the passage of time, thus situating his work within the broader context of epistolary literature. Richard Ford, an English novelist, travel writer, and critic, was deeply influenced by his experiences in various countries, particularly Spain and France, which he vividly recounted in his writings. His immersion in diverse cultures, alongside his relationships with prominent literary figures of his time, shaped his correspondence. This anthology of letters offers invaluable insights into Ford''Äôs intellectual pursuits, personal struggles, and aspirations, revealing the layers of his character and the motivations behind his literary contributions. This collections of letters is not only a treasure trove for scholars and enthusiasts of Victorian literature but also a captivating read for anyone interested in the complexities of human connection. Through this correspondence, readers will discover the resonance of Ford''s thoughts that echo across time, enriching their understanding of the historical context and profundity in his literature.

In "Gatherings from Spain," Richard Ford offers a poignant exploration of the landscapes and cultures of Spain, illuminating a deeply personal journey through evocative prose and keen observations. The narrative intertwines travel writing with reflections on identity and belonging, showcasing Ford''s signature style that marries lyrical detail with introspective honesty. This work draws on the broader literary context of expatriate literature, which often grapples with themes of displacement and connection, revealing how place can shape the writer''s sensibility. Ford''s ability to capture the vibrancy of Spanish life, from its rich history to its contemporary rhythms, creates a tapestry that resonates with both specificity and universality. Ford, an acclaimed American author known for his novels and short stories reflecting themes of regionalism and personal history, brings a wealth of experience and perspective to this essay collection. His own travels and deep-seated interest in the complexities of human experience are evident throughout. Having won multiple awards, including the Pulitzer Prize, Ford''s insights lend credibility and depth to his observations, providing a compelling lens through which readers can engage with Spain. "Gatherings from Spain" is recommended for readers seeking a richly textured narrative that blends travel and memoir. Ford''s reflective style not only informs but also invites readers to contemplate their relationship with place and culture. This book is an essential read for those interested in the intersections of travel, identity, and the literary exploration of foreign landscapes.

A trilogy of brilliant novels—The Sportswriter, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Independence Day, and The Lay of the Land—that charts the life and times of Frank Bascombe, one of the most beloved and enduring characters in modern fiction. When we meet Frank Bascombe in The Sportswriter, his unguarded voice instantly wins us over and pulls us into a life that has been irrevocably changed—by the loss of a marriage, a career, a child. We then follow Frank, ever laconic and observant, through Independence Day and The Lay of the Land, witnessing his fortune’s rise and his family’s fragmentation. With finely honed prose and an eye that captures the most subtle nuances of the human condition—all its pathos and beauty and strangeness—Ford transforms this ordinary man’s life into a riveting, moving parable of life in America today.

Sportjournalisten är den första boken i Richard Fords hyllade Bascombe-trilogi som sedan följdes av Självständighetsdagen och Som landet ligger. Här får vi för första gången möta den amerikanske antihjälten Frank Bascombe. Han är en frånskild sportjournalist som bor i en av New Yorks trygga förorter, älskar sina barn och spenderar sina dagar med att studera människor. Men livet blev inte riktigt som han hade tänkt sig. Han lider av hjärtklappning och dagdrömmar, hans karriär går inte riktigt så bra som han skulle önska. Vi får följa Frank under en påskhelg med hans nya älskarinna då allting sakta drivs till sin spets och han tvingas rannsaka sitt liv på allvar. Sportjournalisten är en gripande, stark och skarpsynt roman om det moderna USA, ensamhetens konsekvenser och kärlekens villkor. En stor roman som många kommer att känna igen sig i.

An ideal introduction to the "Babe Ruth of novelists" (The Washington Post Book World) and the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Independence Day and The Sportswriter. • “One of the country’s best writers…. No one looks harder at contemporary American life, sees more, or expresses it with such hushed, deliberate care.” —San Francisco Chronicle Richard Ford is the first writer to receive both the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award for a single book, his 1995 novel Independence Day. Vintage Ford includes an excerpt from that novel, along with the stories “Communist,” and “Rock Springs” from his collection Rock Springs; “Reunion,” and “Calling,” from A Multitude of Sins, which won him the 2001 PEN/Malamud Award; “The Womanizer,” from Women with Men. Also included, for the first time in book form, the memoir, “My Mother, in Memory.” Vintage Readers are a perfect introduction to some of the great modern writers presented in attractive, accessible paperback editions.

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Independence Day and The Sportswriter comes a novel of menace and eroticism set in Oaxaca, Mexico. • "His prose has a taut, cinematic quality that bathes his story with the same hot, mercilessly white light that scorches Mexico." —The New York Times Book Review In this novel, Richard Ford updates the tradition of Conrad for the age of cocaine smuggling. Harry Quinn has come to free his girlfriend''s brother, Sonny, from jail and, ideally, to get him away form the suavely sadistic drug dealer who suspects Sonny of having cheated him.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.