About this guide the questions, discussion topics, suggested reading list, and author biography that follow are intended to enhance your groups reading and discussion of richard fords pulitzer prizewinning independence day. Richard ford is simply brilliant at capturing the uncapturable. Richard ford is the author of the sportswriter and independence day. The first page provides details for marketing the book, due out in june 1995 with an initial press run of 50,000 copies. Independence day, by richard ford the new york times. Read free book excerpt from independence day by richard ford, page 1 of 4. Independence day is the second of richard fords frank bascombe novels, set several years after the sportswriter. Signed by the author on th condition very fine in a fine dust jacket. Independence day is a 1995 novel by richard ford and the sequel to fords 1986 novel the sportswriter. 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. Author richard ford says let me be frank about aging and dying the pulitzer prizewinning writers new book centers on frank bascombe, a 68yearold man dealing with his aging body, a. Richard fords independence day is a masterpiece of a novel.
Richard ford was born february 16, 1944, in jackson, mississippi, shortly after his parents, parker carrol ford and edna akin ford, moved there from arkansas. In this visionary sequel to the sportswriter, richard ford deepens his portrait of one of the most unforgettable characters in. Independence day presents a bascombe who in some respects is different. In this second novel of richard fords frank bascombe quartet, i was drawn. Independence day epub adobe drm can be read on any device that can open epub adobe drm files. 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. Richard ford born february 16, 1944 is an american novelist and short story writer.
Richard ford, born february 16, 1944 in jackson, mississippi, is an american novelist and short story writer. Free download or read online independence day pdf epub frank bascombe series book. Picture of the back dust jacket for the first edition of independence day. It was followed by the lay of the land 2006 and let me be frank with you 2014. Canada isbn 9781408836569 pdf epub richard ford ebook.
In haddam, summer floats over treesoftened streets like a sweet lotion balm from a careless, languorous god, and the world falls in tune with its own mysterious anthems. His promise as a fiction writerstill dwelled upon at lengthcan be the only. The novel continues the odyssey of selfdiscovery on which frank embarked in fords. Bascombe trilogy 2 by richard ford online at alibris. Richard ford recently exchanged emails with deborah treisman, who has been his editor at the magazine since 2004, on the subject of his new book, let me be frank with you, a series of four. Franks independence day, however, turns out not as hed planned, and this decent, appealingly bewildered, profoundly observant man is wrenched, gradually and inevitably, out of his private refuge. No longer a writer of any kind, frank sells real estate in haddam, new jersey, during the boom period of the 80s. Buy independence day by richard ford from amazons fiction books store. We hope they will aid your understanding of a novel that is at once casual and lyric, hilarious and. His novel wildlife was adapted into a 2018 film of the same name. We hope they will aid your understanding of a novel that is at once casual and lyric, hilarious and poignant, irreverent and inspiring. Richard ford independence day, the second bascombe novel, won both the pulitzer prize and the pen faulkner award. First edition points to identify independence day by.
He is, alas, in late maturity, that time in his professional life wherein technical mastery and a defined voice no longer carry the day. Between them by richard ford overdrive rakuten overdrive. Independence day by richard ford 1996 january 10, 2014 april 29, 2015 andrew moody the worst thing about regret is that it makes you duck the chance of new regret, just as you get a glimmer that nothing is worth doing unless it has the potential to fuck up your whole life. Hes still divorced, though his exwife, to his dismay, has remarried and moved along with their children to connecticut. Independence day by ford, richard, 1944publication date 1995 topics real estate agents, fathers and sons, divorced men. The time is 1988, and frank is looking forward to the fourth of july weekend, when hes arranged to meet with his girlfriend, sally. What is the temper of frank bascombes interior monologue as opposed to that of the novels themes. Richard ford, american writer of novels and short stories about lonely and damaged people.
Other articles where independence day is discussed. Richard ford won the pulitzer prize and the penfaulkner award for his modern classic independence day. This acclaimed book by richard ford is available at in. His collection sorry for your trouble features characters who find that the pieces of their lives no longer fit. Delaware county district library ohio canadian libraries. First trade edition of fords pulitzer prizewinning novel, inscribed on the title page. Oct 19, 2012 the sportswriter is the first of a trilogy of novels featuring ford s american everyman, frank bascombe. The main character, frank bascombe, is a middleaged divorced realtor. Richard fords independence day is a masterpiece of a. Haddam, new jersey, is introduced as idyllic, but reality soon counters the idyll.
Independence day first edition signed richard ford. For some richard ford s second bascombe book will be too introspective, too slow moving. In this visionary sequel to the sportswriter, richard ford deepens his portrait of one of the most unforgettable characters in american fiction, and in so doing. Eleven years ago a few things made that day stand out more than any. He has published eight novels and four collections of stories, including the sportswriter, independence day, the. Pulitzer prizewinning author richard ford s greatest novel to date, isbn 9781408836569 buy the canada ebook. Please be aware that this discussion guide may contain spoilers.
He is winner of the prix femina in france, the 2019 library of congress prize for american fiction, and the princess of asturias award in spain. The sportswriter is the first of a trilogy of novels featuring fords american everyman, frank bascombe. You may have laughed out loud while reading independence day. Octavo, original half blue cloth, original dust jacket. Author richard ford says let me be frank about aging and. In richard fords new stories, ambivalence is the default condition. Frank bascombe is no longer a sportswriter, yet hes still living in haddam, new jersey, where he now sells real estate.
Possibly the novels serious purpose came as a surprise. Best known for his frank bascombe novels, including the sportswriter and the pulitzer prizewinning independence day, richard ford s next is sorry for your trouble, a collection of short stories out in may 2020. Apr 24, 2009 independence day by richard ford posted on april 24, 2009 by kathryn since 1997 or 1998, i have been reading all of the pulitzer prize winners in novels or fiction they changed the name of the category in 1948, to allow for collections of short stories, in order. 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. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. The sportswriter by richard ford books the guardian. Independence day by richard ford read online on bookmate. In some respects, independence day is the best book ive ever read. Perhaps with the sequel coming out soon fans should give this novel a shot to get hyped up. Another title for fords 1996 pulitzer prizewinning. May 02, 2017 for richard ford, memoir is a chance to tell the unthinkable the pulitzer prizewinning novelist revisits the lives and deaths of his parents in his new memoir, between them.
Barbara ehrenreich on richard fords independence day. Canada, a more recent bestseller that inhabits the consciousness of a fragile teenager after his family implodes, is another quiet masterpiece from one of americas most acclaimed writers. Independence day by richard ford author of the sportswriter. Richard ford, mississippi writer and pulitzer prize winner. Independence day captures the mystery of life in all its conflicted glory with grand humour, intense compassion and transfixing power. Pulitzer prizewinning author richard fords greatest novel to date, isbn 9781408836569 buy the canada ebook. Independence day by richard ford the 877th greatest fiction. 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. Frank is divorced from his wife, who has since moved on and remarried a snobbish twit. He is, alas, in late maturity, that time in his professional life wherein technical mastery and. Richard ford, a mississippi novelist and short story writer who in 1996 won the pulitzer prize for literature and the penwilliam faulkner award for independence day, was born in jackson, mississippi, on february 16, 1944. In this visionary sequel to the sportswriter, richard ford deepens his portrait of one of the most unforgettable.
This trilogy of brilliant novels the sportswriter, independence day, and the lay of the land. Independence day won the pulitzer prize and penfaulkner award for. 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. But frank is happy enough in his work and pursuing various civic and entrepreneurial sidelines. He is the son of parker carrol ford, a traveling salesman who was seldom home because he sold laundry starch to wholesale. Read independence day, by richard ford online on bookmate frank bascombe, in the aftermath of his divorce and the ruin of his career, has entered an existence period selling real estate in new.
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. This novel is the second in what is now a fourpart. In richard ford returns in the pulitzer prizewinning independence day 1995, in which he is divorced and leading an empty life until he spends an emotional and spiritual fourth of july weekend with his son. Independence day is a 1995 novel by richard ford and the sequel to ford s 1986 novel the sportswriter.
Best known for his frank bascombe novels, including the sportswriter and the pulitzer prizewinning independence day, richard fords next is sorry for your trouble. Independence day is topheavy with details, some of it just a bit too much for this. The first edition of the novel was published in 1995, and was written by richard ford. I found the novel moving and insightful even if frank is a frustrating protagonist at. In the lay of the land, the final work in richard fords acclaimed trilogy. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 464 pages and is available in format. Uploaded by associateangeladugas on february 25, 20. This acclaimed book by richard ford is available at in several formats for your ereader. 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. In this visionary sequel to the sportswriter, richard ford deepens his portrait of one of the most unforgettable characters in american fiction, and in so doing gives us an indelible portrait of america. Its sequels are independence day and the lay of the land. The novel occurs over fourth of july weekend and frank struggles to sell a house to. The main characters of this fiction, seduction story are frank bascombe. Bascombe trilogy 2 bascombe trilogy series by richard ford.
Completing the bascombe trilogy is the lay of the land 2006, in which bascombe, now a suburban real. His bestknown works are the novel the sportswriter and its sequels, independence day, the lay of the land and let me be frank with you, and the short story collection rock springs, which contains several widely anthologized stories. Pdf independence day book frank bascombe free download. Independence day isbn 9780747585244 pdf epub richard. In 2001 he received the penmalamud award for excellence in short fiction. For gretchen, wendy and for steve with the happy pleasure of meeting you all. Independence day by richard ford posted on april 24, 2009 by kathryn since 1997 or 1998, i have been reading all of the pulitzer prize winners in novels or fiction they changed the name of the category in 1948, to allow for collections of short stories, in order. Sportswriter by richard ford, first edition abebooks. Book richard ford for lectures, readings and conversations.
Picture of the first edition page for independence day. 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. Independence day by richard ford from the recamier. Independence day by richard ford, first edition abebooks. Buy independence day by richard ford from waterstones today. This is one of the 150 limited editions that was issused by b. Independence day by richard ford the 877th greatest. 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 properties, and some clients of his who have been having trouble finding the perfect house.
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 and unforgiving landscape in. Independence day was awarded the pulitzer prize and the penfaulkner award for fiction, the first time the same book had won both prizes. Independence day is the firstperson narrative of frank bascombe, a sportswriter turned realestate agent. Independence day won the pulitzer prize and penfaulkner award for fiction in 1996, becoming the first novel ever to.
In this first volume of his frank bascombe trilogy, bascombe is a sportswriter attempting to cope with his failed marriage and the death of his son. 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. The questions, discussion topics, suggested reading list, and author biography that follow are intended to enhance your groups reading and discussion of richard ford s pulitzer prizewinning independence day. This novel is the second in what is now a fourpart series, the first being the sportswriter. He won a pulitzer prize for independence day 1995, which was part of a trilogy centering on the character frank bascombe. Independence day is one of those rare novels that is superior to the movie and it has aged better too. An astonishing meditation on america today and filled with brilliant insights, the lay of the. 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 properties, and some clients of his who. First trade edition of fords pulitzer prizewinning novel, signed on the title page by him. How is fords pervasive use of humor integral to his development of plot and theme.
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