About
Mordecai Richler was born in Montreal into a Jewish family in the Mile End neighborhood. After dropping out of college, he lived in Paris and then London, where he wrote seven of his ten novels, before returning to Montreal in 1972. His often satirical work explores Jewish and Quebec identities. He is known for 'The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz', adapted into film, and received numerous awards, including the Governor General's Award twice. He also made his mark as a controversial essayist.
* 1931-01-27 — † 2001-07-03
Major works
- The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1959)novel
- St. Urbain's Horseman (1971)novel
- Solomon Gursky Was Here (1989)novel
- Barney's Version (1997)novel
- Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang (1975)children's novel
Key milestones
- 1959Publication of his best-known novel, 'The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz'.
- 1972Wins the Governor General's Award for 'St. Urbain's Horseman'.
- 2001Appointed Companion of the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian honour.
Themes
Jewish identitySocial satireQuebec nationalismAmbition and successMemory and history
Sources: britannica.com · thebookerprizes.com · catdir.loc.gov