His promise as a fiction writerstill dwelled upon at lengthcan be the only. 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. Independence day, by richard ford is the story of frank bascombe who decides on a father and son bonding trip over the 4th of july weekend. I found the novel moving and insightful even if frank is a frustrating protagonist at. Independence day is the firstperson narrative of frank bascombe, a sportswriter turned realestate agent.
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. Dirty realism richard ford born february 16, 1944 is an american novelist and short story writer. Independence day, by richard ford the new york times. The first edition of the novel was published in 1995, and was written by richard ford. Richard ford is simply brilliant at capturing the uncapturable. The novel continues the odyssey of selfdiscovery on which frank embarked in fords. Bascombe trilogy 2 paperback may 7, 1996 by richard ford author. 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. New orleans, he says is noisy and crowded and not a good place to be a novelist. Independence day is a 1995 novel by richard ford and the sequel to ford s 1986 novel the sportswriter. His new shortstory collection, sorry for your trouble, was published may 12. A visionary account of american life and the longawaited sequel to one of the most celebrated novels of the past.
How does independence day s catalog of past and present americana juxtapose the ideal and the real. Independence day by richard ford, first edition abebooks. But ford had found the process of writing independence day, begun in 1991 and published in 1995, exacting. Independence day by richard ford overdrive rakuten. 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. 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 of. 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. You may have laughed out loud while reading independence day. 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. How is fords pervasive use of humor integral to his development of plot and theme. Richard ford is a pulitzer prizewinning american novelist and short story writer. Richard ford is the author of many books, including canada and the pulitzer prizewinning independence day. Independence day by richard ford takes place primarily in the fictional town of haddam, new jersey in 1988. What is the temper of frank bascombes interior monologue as opposed to that of the novels themes.
Feb 08, 2003 but ford had found the process of writing independence day, begun in 1991 and published in 1995, exacting. For some richard ford s second bascombe book will be too introspective, too slow moving. Independence day by richard ford book club discussion. Frank bascombe, in the aftermath of his divorce and the ruin of his career, has entered an existence period, selling real. Richard ford attempted to answer that question in independence day, the second novel in the critically acclaimed frank bascombe series. When we last saw frank bascombe, the angstridden antihero of richard fords highly praised 1986 novel, the sportswriter, he was 38 and. 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. This novel is the second in what is now a fourpart.
Free download or read online independence day pdf epub frank bascombe series book. In this visionary sequel to the sportswriter, richard ford deepens his portrait of one of the most unforgettable. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 464 pages and is available in format. We hope they will aid your understanding of a novel that is at once casual and lyric, hilarious and poignant, irreverent and inspiring. 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. The novel occurs over fourth of july weekend and frank struggles to sell a house to. This novel is the second in what is now a fourpart series, the first being the sportswriter. How is ford s pervasive use of humor integral to his development of plot and theme. This is the second novel in a fourpart series, and it. Accessories such as cd, codes, toys, may not be included.
Richard fords independence day is a masterpiece of a novel. Independence day npr coverage of independence day by richard ford. Spine creases, wear to binding and pages from reading. 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. A visionary account of american lifeand the longawaited sequel. In some respects, independence day is the best book ive ever read. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading independence day.
Octavo, original half blue cloth, original dust jacket. 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. United states of books independence day by richard ford. 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. Independence day is the second of richard fords frank bascombe novels, set several years after the sportswriter. He is the son of parker carrol ford, a traveling salesman who was seldom home because he sold laundry starch to wholesale. Frank is divorced from his wife, who has since moved on and remarried a snobbish twit. May contain limited notes, underlining or highlighting that does affect the text. I was teaching in trinity for a few years, very happily. Independence day was awarded both the pulitzer prize for fiction. Possible ex library copy, thatll have the markings and stickers associated from the library. The main characters of this fiction, seduction story are frank bascombe.
Independence day by richard ford is a sequel to the sportscaster, featuring frank bascome as he struggles to gain independence and reconnect with his. Now, a decade later, frank bascombe returns, with a new lease on life and real estate, and. Pdf independence day book frank bascombe free download. Signed 1st edition 1st printing richard ford independence. The main character, frank bascombe, is a middleaged divorced realtor.
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. Possibly the novels serious purpose came as a surprise. No longer a writer of any kind, frank sells real estate in haddam, new jersey, during the boom period of the 80s. Richard fords independence day is a masterpiece of a. The time is 1988, and frank is looking forward to the fourth of july weekend, when hes arranged to meet with his girlfriend, sally. For some richard fords second bascombe book will be too introspective, too slow moving. Richard ford on his new shortstory collection and how. 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. Bascombe trilogy 2 kindle edition by ford, richard. 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.
In 2001 he received the penmalamud award for excellence in s. 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. 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. 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 as the sportswriter ends, protagonist frank bascombe is a divorced bachelor, struggling in a job he really doesnt like, drifting from one short term relationship to another with women he barely knows. Independence day by ford, richard and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. In 2001 he received the penmalamud award for excellence in short fiction. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. A signed, first edition of richard fords highlyregarded novel, which is a story of a sportswriterturnedreal estate agent and several events in his life over a long fourth of july weekend.
How is fords pervasive use of humor integral to his development of. Independence day by richard ford the 877th greatest. As the sportswriter ends, protagonist frank bascombe is a divorced bachelor, struggling in a job he really doesnt like, drifting from one short term. Independence day paperback by richard ford author and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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. Richard fords literary honour questioned by peers after. Pulitzer prizewinning and penfaulkner award winning author.
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. It was followed by the lay of the land 2006 and let me be frank with you 2014. 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.
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 first edition signed richard ford. Signed 1st edition 1st printing richard ford independence day. 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.
729 880 421 165 1241 886 835 1561 170 1366 410 246 1043 1091 184 824 47 1057 1278 1517 227 1128 1266 587 70 848 1010 1271 272 1401 974 969 780 316 251 868 1278 1401 1308