New Releases by Russell Banks

The archive contains material related to the publication of four novels and one unpublished novel written by Auster during the period 1999-2005; material related to the publication of volumes of collected poetry, novels, and prose published in the period 1999-2006; and material related to the genesis of five film projects: the HBO project "I Thought My Father Was God," based on Auster''s collection of reminiscences published in 2001; "In the Country of Last Things," based on Auster''s novel published in 1987; and "Lulu on the Bridge." Also present are materials related to four nonfiction works, an illustrated fiction project ("Auggie Wren''s Christmas Story," first published in 1990); contributions, prefaces, interviews from the period 2000-2005, and material related to reissues of translations completed mostly during the 1970s but published 2002-2005. Additional material includes promotional artwork; programs featuring Paul Auster; and public remarks made by Auster and those introducing him at these events. Also present is material written by others, including creative adaptations of Auster''s work and scholarly analyses of his work. The archive is rich in both incoming and outgoing correspondence, and includes letters to and from writers and friends, agents and publishers, as well as translators, readers, students, and organizations. Writers and recipients of correspondence include Pedro Almodóvar, Russell Banks, William Corbett, Don DeLillo, Jonathan Safran Foer, Jonathan Lethem, Sam Messer, Michael Ondaatje, Ron Padgett, Claude Royet-Journoud, and others.

When fourteen children from the small town of Sam Dent are lost in a tragic accident, its citizens are confronted with one of life’s most difficult and disturbing questions: When the worst happens, whom do you blame, and how do you cope? Masterfully written, it is a large-hearted novel that brings to life a cast of unforgettable small-town characters and illuminates the mysteries and realities of love as well as grief. The Sweet Hereafter was released as a major motion picture by Atom Egoyan in 1997 and won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. Egoyan also received Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay that year.

Get to know the colorful cast of characters at the Granite State Trailerpark, where Flora in number 11 keeps more than a hundred guinea pigs andscreams at people to stay away from her babies, Claudel in number 5 thinks he is lucky until his wife burns down their trailer and runs off with Howie Leeke, and Noni in number 7 has telephone conversations with Jesus and tells the police about them. In this series of related short stories, Russell Banks offers gripping, realistic portrayals of individual Americans and paints a portrait of New England life that is at once dark, witty, and revealing.