Mordecai Richler

Extraordinary Canadians

by M.G. Vassanji

One of Canada's top novelists examines the life and work of another Canadian Great.

Both Richler and Vassanji are award-winning novelists who regarded themselves as outsiders in their respective societies—one a Jew in Quebec, the other an Indian in Tanzania who emigrated to Canada. Their experiences were vastly different, but their perspective as outsiders allows each a unique viewpoint. With narrative flair and surprising insights, Vassanji explores the life and artistic quest of the prolific Montreal satirist who died in 2001.

Genres: Canada, Nonfiction, Biography

Paperback

First published October 6, 2008

About the author

Moyez G. Vassanji was born in Kenya and raised in Tanzania. Before coming to Canada in 1978, he attended MIT and the University of Pennsylvania, where he specialized in theoretical nuclear physics. From 1978-1980 he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Atomic Energy of Canada, and from 1980 to 1989 he was a research associate at the University of Toronto. During this period he developed a keen interest in medieval Indian literature and history, co-founded and edited a literary magazine (The Toronto South Asian Review, later renamed The Toronto Review of Contemporary Writing Abroad), and began writing stories and a novel. In 1989, with the publication of his first novel, The Gunny Sack, he was invited to spend a season at the International Writing Program of the University of Iowa. That year ended his active career in nuclear physics. His contributions there he considers modest, in algebraic models and high spin states. The fact that he was never tenured he considers a blessing for it freed him to pursue his literary career.

Vassanji is the author of six novels and two collections of short stories. His work has appeared in various countries and several languages. His most recent novel, The Assassin's Song, was short-listed for both the Giller Prize and the Governor-General's Prize for best novel in Canada. It has appeared in the US (Knopf) and India (Penguin) and is scheduled to appear in the UK (Canongate).

His wife, Nurjehan, was born in Tanzania. They have two sons, Anil, and Kabir. He lives in Toronto, and visits Africa and India often.

Awards: Giller Prize, twice; Harbourfront Festival Prize; Commonwealth First Book Prize (Africa); Bressani Prize. Order of Canada.

Reviews

[Rusty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice overview of Richler's life and career. I was interested in it because it is written by another well known Canadian author, M.G. Vassanji. I was curious to read what approach one writer would take in writing about another.
Is suspected he would write something gossipy and behind-the scenes. But this is a safe, easy going book that follows the signposts of Richler's life. We do get a section or two in which Vassanji relates his own immigrant experience to Richler, the son of immigrants.
The major flaw in this book is that Richler's opinions go unchallenged. He had many opinions, some argued in essays, others mere insults. All of these are accepted as fact in this book, though all could be argued against and some sound as ridiculous today as they did back in the day. When there is a hint of objection, a long discourse follows making excuses for Richler.
A respectable, well written introduction to Richler's life and work.

[Heidi Madden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book a lot faster than I expected to. I'm not sure if it was the insight into Montreal Jews that caught me or the easy to read, linear story telling of a Canadian who struggled with his identity. In any case I found MG Vassanji's account of Mordecai Richler's life captivating and I sped through it. I haven't read any of Richler's books but this gave me an introduction to them and what they meant to him during his life. It's also a glimpse into an era of Canadian history that I haven't focused on much. Definitely a good read for those reasons.

[Sjonni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mordecai Richler wrote from the other side of everyone. He turned Montréal's jewish heritage into Québec's door to universality. He was the othered who othered us back.

What's a little insult if it makes you think further?

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this after I found out he wrote Jacob two two and the hooded fang! Our librarian in public school Mrs Hammond read this to us. Now I want to read Barney's Version.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read on a very interesting Canadian.

[Kristine Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this series of biographies (Extraordinary Canadians). They are just the right amount of information to give you an overview of who the person is, their major life events and why they are extraordinary. So many biographies are so weighted with too many details. Solomon Gursky Was Here is on my re-read list and M.G. Vassanji writes that it is considered his best novel, so I'll have to add it to my summer pile. If you've read most of Richler's novels - this short biography helps you to figure out what aspects of those novels are autobiographical.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic, concise, lyrical entry from a fantastic, concise, lyrical series. There are multi-volume biographies that pale in comparison to the effectiveness of this powerful little volume of delight. Richler unplugged, yet summed up with blunt, straightforward beauty.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspired by the NHL playoffs and part of my Canadian and Quebec studies I started another biography in the Extraordinary Canadians series. A great way to reacquaint myself with and learn new things about Canadian history.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely literary biography of one of the icons of Canadian Literature.

I will read more in this series. I'm going to have to check out M.G. Vassanji's books too.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a biography of Mordecai Richler.

[Bob Shepherd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, informative, concise, somewhat insightful, kind of blunt. A book of the ‘Extraordinary Canadians’ series.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good biography, but Richler seems like an neglectful man