Now, a decade later, frank bascombe returns, with a new lease on life and real estate, 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. Start with his name, perfectly and hopelessly american. 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.
The first edition of the novel was published in 1995, and was written by richard ford. For some richard fords second bascombe book will be too introspective, too slow moving. Independence day is the second book of richard fords trilogy which won him the coveted pulitzer prize and sent many surprised readers out to purchase the bypassed book 1 the sportswriter. This novel is the second in what is now a fourpart.
When we last saw frank bascombe, the angstridden antihero of richard fords highly praised 1986 novel, the sportswriter, he was 38 and. The novel continues the odyssey of selfdiscovery on which frank embarked in fords. This is the second novel in a fourpart series, and it. He was awarded the pulitzer prize and the penfaulkner award for independence day and the penmalamud award for excellence in short fiction. This first edition, signed by richard ford is available at bauman rare books. Richard ford is a pulitzer prizewinning american novelist and short story writer. Independence day is the second of richard fords frank bascombe novels, set several years after the sportswriter.
What is the temper of frank bascombes interior monologue as opposed to that of the novels themes. Independence day npr coverage of independence day by richard ford. Richard fords independence day is a masterpiece of a novel. Independence day, by richard ford the new york times. How is ford s pervasive use of humor integral to his development of plot and theme. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 464 pages and is available in format. Start a free 30 day trial today and get your first audiobook free. Independence day audiobook by richard ford 9781436123860. Possibly the novels serious purpose came as a surprise. Independence day is a 1995 novel by richard ford and the sequel to fords 1986 novel the sportswriter. Frank bascombe is no longer a sportswriter, yet hes still living in haddam, new jersey, where he.
A visionary account of american life and the longawaited sequel to one of the most celebrated novels of the past. Pdf independence day book frank bascombe free download. Independence day frank bascombe series, 2 richard ford, 1995 knopf doubleday 464 pp. Richard fords literary honour questioned by peers after. Signed 1st edition 1st printing richard ford independence day. By independence day he has settled himself in a job in real estate, but has a little sideline in a roadside root beer stall keeping, perhaps, a weather eye on the road out. Karen robinson, eyevine librarian of congress carla hayden announced today that richard ford, author of independence day the first novel to win both the pulitzer prize and the penfaulkner award will receive the library of congress prize for american fiction during the 2019 library of. And in this embattled ascent richard ford captures the mystery of life in all its conflicted glory with grand humor, intense compassion and transfixing power. Feb 12, 2020 influenced later writers such as richard ford in the sportswriter 1986 and its moving sequel, independence day 1995.
Bascombe trilogy 2 kindle edition by ford, richard. Since then his novels, including the ultimate good luck and wildlife, and his much acclaimed collection of short stories, rock springs, have proved him a much less predictable writer and one harder to categorize. Independence day by richard ford bigrockformations pot on pulitzer november 30, 2018 3 minutes there is a dreariness about the existence period writer richard ford has his character, frank bascombe, stumble through in independence day. For some richard ford s second bascombe book will be too introspective, too slow moving. Independence day first edition signed richard ford. This great 1995 1st edition 1st printing has been hand signed by author richard ford on the front end page in blue archival finepoint pen with just his signature there are no personalizations or inscriptions. Richard fords literary honour questioned by peers after history of aggressive behaviour.
In setting, types of characters, plots, point of view and, most importantly, in ever broadening sympathy, ford has, as he remarks in this interview. Signed 1st edition 1st printing richard ford independence. Toward the end of richard fords 1995 novel, independence daywinner of the pulitzer prize, and the second in what is now a trilogy featuring frank bascombefrank relates an. His voice retains the faint smoky sweetness of his native mississippi. Between scott spencers men in black and richard fords independence day, the former is the better novel. Richard ford will be awarded the library of congress prize for american fiction. The art of living your life has a lot to do with getting over loss. Feb 08, 2003 by independence day he has settled himself in a job in real estate, but has a little sideline in a roadside root beer stall keeping, perhaps, a weather eye on the road out. In the sportswriter, to which independence day is the sequel, ford s hero frank bascombe inhabited a world that was just large enough for his personal tragedies and philanderings and not an iota.
Independence day by richard ford, first edition abebooks passion for books. Fords book is sustained not by a plot or even by a story but by one mans voice, and in the end the man is not particularly interesting. Independence day by ford, richard and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Library of congress prize for american fiction to be.
With the sportswriter, in 1986, richard ford commenced a cycle of novels that, 10 years later, after independence day won both the pulitzer prize and the penfaulkner award, was hailed by the times of london as an extraordinary epic that is nothing less than the story of the 20th century itself. This novel is the second in what is now a fourpart series, the first being the sportswriter. An uncorrected proof of independence day, a true first edition of richard fords awardwinning book. 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. Hailed as a major american novel, independence day is a relentlessly thoughtful, heartwrenching, yet hilarious portrait of an ordinar. In near fine condition, fine for a softcover edition. But franks independence day turns out not as hed planned. I found the novel moving and insightful even if frank is a frustrating protagonist at. Free download or read online independence day pdf epub frank bascombe series book. No longer a writer of any kind, frank sells real estate in haddam, new jersey, during the boom period of the 80s. Like possibly this is one more version of disappearing into your life, the way career telephone company bigwigs, overdutiful parents and owners of wholesale lumber companies are said to do and never know it. May 16, 2019 librarian of congress carla hayden announced today that richard ford, author of independence day the first novel to win both the pulitzer prize and the penfaulkner award will receive the library of congress prize for american fiction during the 2019 library of congress national book festival on aug. 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. 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.
Signed by the author on th condition very fine in a fine dust jacket. 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 highwire act of normalcy. His novel wildlife was adapted into a 2018 film of the same name. Richard ford, mississippi writer and pulitzer prize winner. Independence day by richard ford book club discussion. Independence day is a 1995 novel by richard ford and the sequel to ford s 1986 novel the sportswriter. Independence day is the firstperson narrative of frank bascombe, a sportswriter turned realestate agent. He has published five novels and three collections of stories, including the sportswriter, independence day, wildlife, a multitude of sins and most recently the lay of the land. Richard ford, born february 16, 1944 in jackson, mississippi, is an american novelist and short story writer. Equally impressive were the novels and stories of peter taylor, an impeccable social realist, raconteur, and genial novelist of manners who recalled a bygone world in works such as the old forest. In this visionary sequel to the sportswriter, richard ford deepens his portrait of one of the most unforgettable. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading independence day. Independence day by richard ford, first edition abebooks.
He has been called our babe ruth of novelists, and there is good reason. Discussion of themes and motifs in richard fords independence day. A visionary account of american life and the longawaited sequel to one of the most celebrated novels of the past decade independence day reveals a man and our country with unflinching comedy and the specter of hope and even permanence, all of which richard ford evokes with keen intelligence, perfect. This decent, appealingly bewildered, profoundly observant man is wrenched, gradually and inevitably, out of his private refuge. When alice hoffman wrote what ford called nasty things about independence day, he shot a hole. It was followed by the lay of the land 2006 and let me be frank with you 2014. Listen to independence day by richard ford available from rakuten kobo. But, over one fourth of july weekend, frank is called into sudden, bewildering engagement with life. Your life doesnt mean what you have or what you get. Independence day has been called the definitive novel of the postwar generation, and ford himself has been hailed as one of the finest curators of the great american living museum. We hope they will aid your understanding of a novel that is at once casual and lyric, hilarious and poignant, irreverent and inspiring.
Start a free 30day trial today and get your first audiobook free. How is fords pervasive use of humor integral to his development of. Pulitzer prizewinning and penfaulkner award winning author. Oct 10, 2006 toward the end of richard fords 1995 novel, independence daywinner of the pulitzer prize, and the second in what is now a trilogy featuring frank bascombefrank relates an observation made. Nov 05, 2019 richard fords literary honour questioned by peers after history of aggressive behaviour. There is a dreariness about the existence period writer richard ford has his character, frank bascombe, stumble through in independence day. The main characters of this fiction, seduction story are frank bascombe.
Independence day by richard ford takes place primarily in the fictional town of haddam, new jersey in 1988. His bestknown works are the novel the sportswriter and its sequels, independence day and the lay of the land, and the short story collection rock springs, which contains several widely anthologized stories. Independence day by richard ford is a sequel to the sportscaster, featuring frank bascome as he struggles to gain independence and reconnect with his. His promise as a fiction writerstill dwelled upon at lengthcan be the only. Frank bascombe is no longer a sportswriter, yet hes still living in. In 2001 he received the penmalamud award for excellence in short fiction. You may have laughed out loud while reading independence day. In this visionary sequel to the sportswriter, richard ford deepens his portrait of one of the. Independence day was awarded the pulitzer prize and the penfaulkner award for fiction.
Richard ford born february 16, 1944 is an american novelist and short story writer. As the sportswriter ends, protagonist frank bascombe is a divorced bachelor, struggling in a job he really doesnt like, drifting from one short term. Richard ford was born in jackson, mississippi, in 1944. My greatest human flaw and strength, not surprisingly, is that i can always imagine anythinga marriage, a conversation, a governmentas being different from how it is, a trait that might make one a topnotch trial lawyer or novelist or realtor, but that also seems to produce a somewhat less than reliable and morally feasible human being. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. Ford is the author now of five novels and a book of short stories, but he is probably best known for the sportswriter 1988, widely praised as a realistic. He thought that the whole declaration of independence was an attempt to.
499 266 621 1117 1684 327 1568 783 1190 1191 293 1371 247 1100 536 826 1299 677 331 167 436 1371 384 604 836 801 1358 1075