Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Adultery by Richard B. Wright Richard B. Wright biography. Richard Wright is the author of ten acclaimed novels, including The Age of Longing, Clara Callan , and Adultery . He’s been awarded the Governor General's Literary Award, the Trillium Award and the Giller Prize, and been nominated for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. He lives in St. Catharines, Ontario. This bio was last updated on 02/26/2016. We try to keep BookBrowse's biographies both up to date and accurate, but with many thousands of lives to keep track of it's a tough task. So, please help us - if the information about this author is out of date or inaccurate, and you know of a more complete source, please let us know. Authors and publishers: If you wish to make changes to a bio, send the complete biography as you would like it displayed so that we can replace the old with the new. Reviews "Beyond the Book" articles Free books to read and review (US only) Find books by time period, setting & theme Read-alike suggestions by book and author Book club discussions and much more! Just $12 for 3 months or $39 for a year. Interview. Richard B. Wright discusses the challenges of writing from the perspective of a woman, why he chose to set Clara Callan in the 1930s, and the difficulties of credibly conjuring up that period. Was there any especially challenging aspect of writing letters and diary entries from the perspective of a woman? The especially challenging aspect of any novel for me is establishing the main character. Once I have that character's "voice", I feel the book begins to live. I had to imagine what it was like to be a woman like Clara in the 1930s. But that's what novelists do -- imagine what it's like to be someone else. The letters and diary entries seemed a natural way to tell her story. Clara Callan is set in the 1930s. What kind of research did you do to make this era so vivid? I read a great deal about the period, and I remember things my parents had said about the 1930s. It's always been a special interest of mine and the period has always seemed to me to be a pivotal decade in the last century. In this novel, characters seem concerned with their own sexual morality. Is this a function of the era or the nature of small towns? Yes, this is a function of the nature of small towns where everyone is concerned (and were more concerned 70 years ago) with personal reputation. Our tolerance for more liberal sexual attitudes nowadays is very new in North American life. It probably began around the end of. Reviews "Beyond the Book" articles Free books to read and review (US only) Find books by time period, setting & theme Read-alike suggestions by book and author Book club discussions and much more! Just $12 for 3 months or $39 for a year. Books by this Author. Books by Richard B. Wright at BookBrowse. Reviews "Beyond the Book" articles Free books to read and review (US only) Find books by time period, setting & theme Read-alike suggestions by book and author Book club discussions and much more! Just $12 for 3 months or $39 for a year. Readalikes. In addition to co-authoring The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society with her aunt Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows is the author of the children's series Ivy and Bean , as well as The Magic Half . Judy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Adults as well as children will recognize such Blume titles as: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret; Blubber; Just as Long as We're Together; and the five book series . (more) Richard B. Wright. Richard B. Wright is a Canadian writer of ordinariness. Not that his novels are banal or he's a dull writer—they aren't and he isn't. But he takes as his subjects the lives of ordinary people—middle or lower-class folks trying to do the right thing while seeking some measure of comfort. Their travails are related in an unpretentious, unadorned style, usually from the perspective of a mild-mannered protagonist, and relief usually comes in the end with some palatable social compromise. This seeking of relief, come to think of it, may be a general Canadian thing. Despite all the talk of CanLit being about victimhood, struggle against hostile nature, an alleged fortress mentality, we can in fact find many more examples of characters trying to work out their difficult modern relationships, finding shelter from their own tumultuous memories and anxieties in their connection with others. One of the best expressions of such a resolution may be the end of Wright's 2008 novel Adultery, when protagonist Daniel Fielding has lain down with his wronged wife who appears to have at least partially forgiven him: She had moved behind him. Closing his eyes, Fielding leaned his head against her stomach. It was enough. For now it was enough. That's all. Throughout the provocatively titled novel, the reader may expect an explosion, a tragedy of some kind, a going through of hell, resulting from Fielding's infidelity and the woman's death he is indirectly responsible for. But the worst that happens is he gets punched by the deceased's brother. The rest of her family, his colleagues and his own betrayed family and friends, while understandably upset, are in the end reasonable about it. Compromises, however uneasy, are found for continued living. Again, this is not meant to disparage Wright's writing style. It's not to say he fails to construct characters with sufficient angst, or a narrative with properly placed jeopardy and payoff. Rather it's to laud him for writing realistically about life as he see it, rather than give in to artificially heightened drama. Early in Adultery, after Fielding's partner in their brief fling is murdered, it seems the story might develop into a crime story or psychological thriller. But the facts are quickly sorted out and the case is resolved to make way for the story Wright is interested in—how guilt and betrayal are experienced and dealt with in a certain civilized milieu. Breakthroughs. Clara Callan (2001) is sometimes called Richard B. Wright's break-through novel (which finally stopped people confusing him with Richard Wright, the very different and earlier American author of Native Son and Black Boy ), though Clara Callan was his ninth novel and was published when he was hitting his senior years. It was very successful internationally, despite being a somewhat claustrophobic account of a woman's life in small-town Ontario, contrasted with her sister's sophisticated experiences in New York—and despite Wright's characteristic pulling of dramatic punches and his subtle style. At least two other novels, however, may also be called breakthroughs. Wright's first adult novel, The Weekend Man (1970), was a hit with critics. The story of Wes Wakeham, a meek, direction-less, 30-year-old salesman in Toronto to whom nothing much happens also intrigued its readers, then and since, with its finely observed behaviours among the ordinary people of the time. The followup to The Weekend Man was a bit of a letdown. Fred Landon (another of Wright's blandly named male leads) as the middle-aged, middle-class protagonist of In the Middle of a Life (1973) was perhaps too, uh, middling. Ordinary to the point of dull. Nothing much happens again in this novel but this time nothing else sparks interest either. Wright's eighth novel, The Age of Longing (1995) was acclaimed and nominated for some of the prizes that Clara Callan would eventually win, though it is an oddly incomplete work, dropping several of the narrative threads and undercutting some of the drama, which we should be used to from Wright by this time. It does stretch Wright's creative powers, however, spanning several generation as one Howard Wheeler tries to fit together his remembered and imagined past. The Age of Longing also aims to serve as a commentary on our times, as the title hints. In the novel's last chapter, the author sums up life in the twentieth century: The revolutions, the wars, the death camps, the collapse of our sense of community, the billions now swarming across the planet have made meaningless any account of two individuals' lives. Yet does there not persist within each of us a need to know and understand who we are and where we come from? And how else but through memory and imagination and language can we recount what might have happened yesterday or what may happen tomorrow? The teller of small stories, the simple chronicler of the ordinary has his role and performs it well. Strange comparisons. In this, Wright's novels remind me of the short, localized stories of Canadian writers like Morley Callaghan and Alice Munro. But the name that most comes to mind is that of John O'Hara. ( There's a comparison you didn't expect.) O'Hara catalogued the personal experiences of the middle class in a certain slice of America around the mid-century without getting into the momentous events shaking the world, as Wright did for a section of later Canadian life. Both writers eschewed the big literary flourishes, each employing a serviceable style that didn't draw attention to itself but drove the story forward. O'Hara did yield more often to the demand for the shocking dramatic climax, but both authors seemed more invested in their characters finding ways of living with their real or imagined sins. Adultery. Daniel Fielding has it all: a charming wife and daughter, the respect of his co-workers, a nice house in a desirable neighbourhood. What, then, drives him to succumb to the charms of a pretty, young colleague at an overseas book fair? When a passionate indiscretion explodes into violence, Fielding must confront the ever-widening aftershocks of his actions, an uncertain future and his own inner demons. Adultery uncovers the many shadings of infidelity and the intricacies of emotion that lie just beneath the surface of ordinary life. Subtle but powerful, it proves once again that Richard B. Wright is a master storyteller and one of our finest writers. Richard B. Wright Books In Order. Richard B. Wright was a renowned Canadian writer and multiple award-winning novelist, best known for writing historical fiction, cultural, literary fiction, and contemporary novels. He was particularly popular for his breakthrough novel called Clara Callan, which was published in 2001. This novel is the winner of three of the most prestigious Canadian literary awards: the Governor General’s Award, Trillium Book Award, and the Giller Prize. The other notable works of author Wright include The Weekend Man, Mr. Shakespeare’s Bastard, Adultery, October, Nightfall, and several others. Wright was born on March 4, 1937, in Midland, Ontario, Canada. His parents, Laura and Laverne, were from the middle-class background. Wright completed his high school graduation in 1956 from Midland High School. Later, he attended the Ryerson Polytechnic Institute and graduated in 1959 with a degree in Radio & TV arts. Immediately after his graduation, Wright started working for as a copywriter for local radio stations and newspapers. In 1960, he became an assistant editor at Macmillan Canada. Wright met and married his future wife named Phyllis Cotton in 1966. The couple became the parents of two sons named Richard Andrew and Christopher Stephen. When Wright was working at Macmillan, he wrote and released his first book. It was a children’s book called Andrew Tolliver. The book was renamed as One John A Too Many in its subsequent editions. Author Wright wrote his debut full-length novel in a period of 18 months while he stayed at the family cottage of his wife in Quebec. The book, Weekend Man, became an instant and a critical success. It won him praise for his versatility and his ability for creating believable and excellent female characters. In 1970, Wright decided to return to college and continue with his post-secondary studies. He joined the Trent University and obtained a BA degree in English in 1972. Four years later, Wright joined a private school called Ridley College and obtained a teaching position. He remained a teacher of English until he took retirement. Although many of Wright’s initial novels were nominated for a few literary awards, he did not gain recognition as a noteworthy author until he came up with Clara Callan in 2001. This book not only won his major literary awards, but also helped him get noticed by major publishers, who republished his earlier novels. Most of the literary works of author Wright deal with ordinary people’s lives. They have a profound balance of sensitivity and depth. Wright was particularly praised for his ability to create believable characters that have voices that need to be heard. The Montreal Gazette has praised his work by stating that he has the capability to write masterful novels that confirm his ability of evoking an authentic female sensibility. Wright’s most recent novel, Mr. Shakespeare Bastard, has gained recognition as a book that draws the readers swiftly through its pages. Wright’s narratives about pure life and character backgrounds have helped him gain much wider recognition as a noteworthy novelist from Canada. Today, his novels continue to get published throughout the world. The Tent University awarded Wright an Honorary Doctorate of Letters in 2006, and a year later, he was included as an Order of Canada member. Wright used to live in St. Catharines, Ontario. He used to write full-length novels from the comfort of his home and often participated in recreational pastimes like reading, walking, and listening to music. Wright’s death occurred on February 7, 2017, in St. Catharines due to a stroke. A popular book penned by author Richard B. Wright in his writing career is entitled ‘Clara Callan’. It was released by the Harper Perennial publication in 2001. The setting takes place in Ontario, Canada during the 1930s and features the primary characters in the roles of Clara Callan, Nora Callan, and a few others. Initially, it is depicted that Clara and Nora live in a small Canadian town. When Nora is about to leave for New York, Clara takes her leave reluctantly. The time is such that Europe is facing fascism’s growing threat and it begins to become a constant worry for many. People try to escape from this reality through movies and radio. Nora and Clara have different personalities, but they share a past. They try to discover their places within a complex web of young women’s social expectations. Nora goes on to cherish a glamorous career in the field of radio soap operas. On the other hand, Clara continues to be an independent-minded and strong woman. She remains in the close-knit community of her small town and struggles to observe its traditional boundaries. However, she does not relinquish her dreams of freedom, adventure, and love. Things turn out to be a lot more different than appear to be. Nora’s frequent letters Clara reveal that living in a big city is not as exotic as people expect it to be. Also, the tranquil solitude of the life of Clara is shattered by several unforeseeable events. The unexpected twists require Clara to gather all her strength and courage, and put her unbreakable bond with her sister to test. Another excellent novel written by Wright is known as ‘October’. It was published in 2007 by the HarperCollins Canada publication. It features the main characters in the roles of James Hillyer, Odette, Susan Hillyer, and Gabriel Fontaine. This coming-of-age tale is set in Quebec during the Second World War and revolves around a man looking for answers about his life. The novel opens by showing that James Hillyer visits England to meet his gravely ill daughter named Susan. On this trip, James, who is a retired professor of the Victorian literature, comes across a man by chance whom he knew when he was a boy. The man is Gabriel Fontaine, an attractive and rich American, who James Hillyer met during a summer holiday in Gaspe. In his adolescence, James was attracted as well as repelled by the charm and cocksure attitude of Gabriel. He was also in love with a French-Canadian girl named Odette. After meeting Gabriel 6 decades later, James is asked by him to join him an unthinkable final journey. This chance encounter with Gabriel and the subsequent journey makes James believe that the beginnings and endings of a person’s life have an inexorable linkage. Adultery : a novel. A young woman is brutally murdered at a seaside town in Devon. She had been in the car with her older, married lover, Fielding. She stepped outside just for a minute and now she is dead, victim of a mindless attack, and Fielding must pick up the pieces. How can he face everyone, his wife and family, his lover's family, the media? Read more. Adultery -- Fiction. Adultery. 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