Mordecai Richler

Mordecai Richler was a celebrated Canadian author, essayist, and screenwriter known for his sharp wit and unflinching portrayals of Montreal's Jewish community. Born in Montreal in 1931, he gained international acclaim for novels such as "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz," "Saint Urbain's Horseman," and "Barney's Version," the latter of which was inspired by his own life experiences. His novel "Solomon Gursky Was Here" was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 1990, cementing his reputation as a major literary figure. Richler also wrote the beloved children's series "Jacob Two-Two," showcasing his versatility across genres.

Richler's writing often drew from his working-class Jewish upbringing in Montreal's Mile End neighborhood, blending satire with poignant social commentary. After briefly studying English at Sir George Williams College (now Concordia University), he moved to Paris at 19, later settling in London, where he wrote much of his early work. Despite his time abroad, he returned to Montreal in 1972, reaffirming his deep connection to the city that fueled his storytelling. His novels frequently explored themes of identity, ambition, and familial strife, reflecting both his personal struggles and broader cultural tensions. Richler passed away in 2001, leaving behind a legacy as one of Canada's most influential literary voices.
Jacob Two-Two Books
# Title Year
1 Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang 1975
2 Jacob Two-Two and the Dinosaur 1987
3 Jacob Two-Two's First Spy Case 1995
Standalone Novels
# Title Year
1 The Acrobats 1954
2 Son of a Smaller Hero 1955
3 The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz 1959
4 Cocksure 1968
5 St. Urbain's Horseman 1971
6 A Choice of Enemies 1973
7 Joshua Then and Now 1980
8 Best of Modern Humour 1983
9 Home Sweet Home 1984
10 Solomon Gursky Was Here 1989
11 Oh Canada! Oh Quebec! 1992
12 Barney's Version 1997
13 Dispatches from the Sporting Life 2002
Short Stories/Novellas
# Title Year
1 Stick Your Neck Out. 1963
2 Shovelling Trouble 1972
3 The Incomparable Atuk 1989
Short Story Collections
# Title Year
1 The Street 1969
Non-Fiction Books
# Title Year
1 This Year In Jerusalem 1994
Collections
# Title Year
1 Hunting Tigers Under Glass 1968
2 Notes On An Endangered Species, And Others 1974
3 The Great Comic Book Heroes And Other Essays 1978
4 Broadsides 1990
5 Belling The Cat 1998
Mordecai Richler Anthologies
# Title Year
1 Canadian Writing Today 1970
2 Writers On World War Ii 1989
3 The Faber Book of Contemporary Canadian Short Stories 1990
4 Four Continents 2008
5 The Scotiabank Giller Prize 15 Years: An Anthology of Prize-Winning Canadian Fiction. 2008