Product Description

Novelist, essayist, satirist, and iconoclast, Mordecai Richler made an international reputation with such contemporary fiction triumphs as Barney’s Version and The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz. His death in July 2001 prompted heartfelt tributes from around the world that acknowledged his humour, intellect, soft heart, and irrepressible curmudgeonliness.

The Last Honest Man documents the writer’s public and private lives through the words of his family and friends, colleagues and rivals, editors, writers, filmmakers, drinking pals, snooker buddies, and many others. To borrow a phrase from his long-time editor, Robert Gottlieb, this unusual biography captures the grumpy and the high-spirited man, the generous and the distanced, the enthusiastic and the sardonic, the hungry and the fastidious, the man who was awkward in crowded social situations but consummately at ease in Winston’s bar in Montreal.

Michael Posner draws on dozens of interviews conducted in London, New York, Montreal, and Toronto to present an unusual and compelling portrait of this complex man and artist.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2388138 in Books
• Published on: 2004-03-16
• Released on: 2004-03-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 376 pages

Review
From the Quill & Quire
“…a vivid, consistently engaging character study that is as well balanced as it is ennobling.”

“The fully mature, more familiar Richler figure is here as well: tipping over sacred cows, drinking and smoking too much, and, of course, dedicatedly writing the novels and essays that made him the best writer Canada has yet produced.”

“entirely believable”


From the National Post (Robert Fulford)
“…absorbing and revealing oral biography.”

“The Last Honest Man takes us closer to Richler, both the professional and the private man, than anything else in print.”

“Posner, by carefully organizing the details of Richler’s personal history, shows us how the work came out of the life.”

“The Last Honest Man tells a remarkable story, at once melancholy, inspiring and triumphant.”

From the Inside Flap
Novelist, essayist, satirist, and iconoclast, Mordecai Richler made an international reputation with such contemporary fiction triumphs as Barney?s Version and The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz. His death in July 2001 prompted heartfelt tributes from around the world that acknowledged his humour, intellect, soft heart, and irrepressible curmudgeonliness.

The Last Honest Man documents the writer?s public and private lives through the words of his family and friends, colleagues and rivals, editors, writers, filmmakers, drinking pals, snooker buddies, and many others. To borrow a phrase from his long-time editor, Robert Gottlieb, this unusual biography captures the grumpy and the high-spirited man, the generous and the distanced, the enthusiastic and the sardonic, the hungry and the fastidious, the man who was awkward in crowded social situations but consummately at ease in Winston?s bar in Montreal.

Michael Posner draws on dozens of interviews conducted in London, New York, Montreal, and Toronto to present an unusual and compelling portrait of this complex man and artist.

About the Author
Michael Posner is an arts reporter and feature writer for the Globe and Mail. He is the author of three previous nonfiction books.

Customer Reviews

An outstanding biography
This is an outstanding biography and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about the life and family of Mordecai Richler. The author has done a fantastic job putting together a fascinating life story from what must have been hundreds of interviews with those who knew Mordecai Richler best, including his immediate family and the people he grew up with, went to school with, and worked with.

not definitive bio but it still fascinates the richler lover
This is not for those looking for a definitive biography. Its a wondeful read however. I wasn't sure I would like a book full of interviews but it works really well in this case. This is a must have for any aspiring writers. It makes Richler, who had impeccable work habits when it came to his craft, accessible and encouraged me to read or re-read Richler. Anyone who is a fan of Richler will really enjoy this book.

not definitive bio but it still fascinates the richler lover
This is not a definitive biography. It is an oral biography with interviews of family friends and hanger ons in Richler's life. As an admirer of Richler it still enthralls me however. While there is nothing terribly new here the book does a good job at summing up what we knew, loved or despised about the Canadian Icon. I wasn't sure I would like a book that was just interviews but somehow it works. It provides several views of particular incidents in Richler's life. And it adds Richler's comments here and there as well in an effort to clear up any muddles. Anyone who is an aspiring writer should read this book.