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
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Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
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
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Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
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
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Title
Year
Goodreads
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1
Stick Your Neck Out.
1963
2
Shovelling Trouble
1972
3
The Incomparable Atuk
1989
Short Story Collections
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Title
Year
Goodreads
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1
The Street
1969
Non-Fiction Books
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Title
Year
Goodreads
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1
This Year In Jerusalem
1994
Collections
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Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
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
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Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
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.