This is the second novel in a fourpart series, and. Independence day is the second of richard fords frank bascombe novels, set several years after the sportswriter. Independence day first edition signed richard ford. Book is in very good condition, with some minor wear to edges, corners, and some read flexibility to spine. After a fiveyear hiatus, an undisputed american master delivers a haunting and elemental novel about the cataclysm that undoes one teenage boys family, and the stark. Independence day won both the pulitzer prize and the penfaulkner prizethe first book to receive both simultaneously. This is the second novel in a fourpart series, and it. The former newspaper reporter in me demands i begin my thought here on richard fords new novel canada ecco with a bit of fulldisclosure. Richard fords independence day is a masterpiece of a novel.
Bascombe, a middleaged journalist and divorcee, stood out for his remarkable commitment to living comfortably and decently in the. Free book independence day by richard ford how download. The novel continues the odyssey of selfdiscovery on. Book richard ford for lectures, readings and conversations. Independence day, by richard ford the new york times. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. In this visionary sequel to the sportswriter, richard ford deepens his portrait of one of the most. Independence day npr coverage of independence day by richard ford. When we last saw frank bascombe, the angstridden antihero of richard fords highly praised 1986 novel, the sportswriter, he was 38 and about to cast himself adrift. The only writer ever to win both the pulitzer prize and penfaulkner award for a single novel independence day richard ford follows the completion of his acclaimed bascombe trilogy with canada. The jacket is in very good shape, with wear to edges, corners, minor shelf wear, and a. In 1986, richard ford created one of the most vivid characters of late 20thcentury fiction with frank bascombe, the easygoing protagonist of his novel the sportswriter. Independence day takes place in the fictional town of haddam, new jersey, as well as in upstate new york and connecticut during the year 1988.
This trilogy of brilliant novels the sportswriter, independence day, and the lay of the land that charts the life and times of one of the most beloved and enduring characters in modern fiction. In 2001 he received the penmalamud award for excellence in short fiction. New orleans, he says is noisy and crowded and not a good place to be a novelist. His promise as a fiction writerstill dwelled upon at lengthcan be the. Richard ford, a novelist and short story writer, is best known for a trilogy of prizewinning books featuring frank bascombe, a middleaged everyman from suburban new jersey. Independence day ist ein roman des amerikanischen schriftstellers richard ford aus dem jahr 1995. Richard ford is the author of seven novels and three collections of stories. The novel occurs over fourth of july weekend and frank struggles to sell a house to. Independence day is the firstperson narrative of frank bascombe, a sportswriter turned realestate agent. Richard ford books, ebooks, audiobooks, biography barnes.
His novel wildlife was adapted into a 2018 film of the same. Octavo, original half blue cloth, original dust jacket. Richard fords independence day david louis edelman. Any novel about a middle aged man visiting the baseball hal of fame with his son over the independence day weekend has me hooked from the first page. For some richard fords second bascombe book will be too introspective, too slow moving. Now, with women with men, he reaffirms his mastery of shorter fiction with his first collection since the widely acclaimed rock springs, published a decade ago. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy.
Independence day, the novel that won richard ford the pulitzer prize and penfaulkner, is a bittersweet, albeit short, journey through the midlife critical week in the life of frank bascombe. Vintage ford includes an excerpt from that novel, along with the stories communist. Richard ford born february 16, 1944 is an american novelist and short story writer. I found the novel moving and insightful even if frank is a frustrating protagonist at. Independence day is a 1995 novel by richard ford and the sequel to fords 1986 novel the sportswriter. Independence day by richard ford takes place primarily in the fictional town of haddam, new jersey in 1988. Independence day by ford, richard and a great selection of related books. Ford has been compared to william faulkner and ernest hemingway. Read free book excerpt from independence day by richard ford, page 1 of 4. Frank bascombe, in the aftermath of his divorce and the ruin of his career, has entered an existence period, selling. I pondered faulkners lines again recently, as i lay awake at 1 a. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors.
Ford lives here in my native state of maine and is a friend more fulldisclosure. Frank bascombehas become our unlikely virgil, guiding us through the modern american purgatory of bigbox stores along frontage roads, slowly decaying town squares and leafy, secretharboring suburbs. Richard fords independence dayhis sequel to the sportswriter, and an international bestselleris the only novel ever to have received both the pulitzer prize and the penfaulkner award. Independence day, the second bascombe novel, won both the pulitzer prize and the pen faulkner award. No longer a writer of any kind, frank sells real estate in haddam, new jersey, during the boom period of the 80s. The author of five novels and two collections of stories, richard ford was awarded the pulitzer prize and the penfaulkner award for independence day, the first book to win both prizes. Richard ford is the author of the bascombe novels, which include the sportswriter and its sequels, independence day the first novel to win the pulitzer prize and the penfaulkner award and the lay of the land, as well as the short story collections rock springs and a multitude of sins, which contain many widely anthologized stories. Richard fords new memoir, between them, makes clear the enormous difficulty of truly knowing that enigmatic pair who invented us. Richard ford is simply brilliant at capturing the uncapturable. Richard ford is more known for his pulitzeraward winning independence day but this book, his fourth, wildlife is his only book included in the 501 must read books so i picked this up first. Frank is now working in real estate and has come to terms with his status as a divorced man, although he finds it difficult to accept his wife anns remarriage, and worries about how to develop and sustain relationships with his children.
Richard fords independence day is a masterpiece of a. He is definitely the most skilled writer ive ever read when it comes to translating onto the page just what goes on in the human mind and heart as they struggle to cope with pain, loss, disappointment, and ultimately regeneration. Independence day, was the first book to receive both the pulitzer prize and the penfaulkner award. He has published eight novels and four collections of stories, including the sportswriter, independence day, the lay of the land and the new york times bestseller, canada. Description book independence day by richard ford independence day follows frank bascombe, a new jersey real estate agent, through the titular holiday weekend as he visits his exwife, his troubled son, his current lover, the renters of one of his. A visionary account of american lifeand the longawaited sequel. Frank bascombe is no longer a sportswriter, yet hes still living in new jersey, where he now sells real estate.
Ford follows his muchcelebrated the sportswriter 1986, picking up the story about six years later, as frank bascombe, now in his 40s, emerges from the midlife crisis depicted in the earlier book. Discover book depositorys huge selection of richard ford books online. Richard ford talks to richard williams about spelling, sin and dodgy surfaces richard williams fri 21 sep 2001 21. An accomplished practitioner of the short story and the babe ruth of novelists, washington post book world richard ford is the first writer to receive both the pulitzer prize and the penfaulkner award for a single book, his 1995 novel independence day.
He is, alas, in late maturity, that time in his professional life wherein technical mastery and a defined voice no longer carry the day. 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. In some respects, independence day is the best book ive ever read. But ford had found the process of writing independence day, begun in 1991 and published in 1995, exacting. The main character, frank bascombe, is a middleaged divorced realtor.
The lay of the land is the third in a cycle of richard fords novels which also includes the sportswriter and independence day. First trade edition of fords pulitzer prizewinning novel, inscribed on the title page. Independence day by richard ford, first edition abebooks. Frank is divorced from his wife, who has since moved on and remarried a snobbish twit. Wildlife by richard ford meet your next favorite book. For gretchen, wendy and for steve with the happy pleasure of meeting you all. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. In this visionary sequel to the sportswriter, richard ford deepens his portrait of.
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