Introducing... Richard Yates

As anyone who knows me will know, Richard Yates is one of the few authors where I'll pick up the book primarily because it's written by him. He was born in New York but an unstable home moved him from place to place before eventually joining the army and serving in Germany and France during WW2.

His background would come as no surprise if you read his books; largely frighteningly realistic looks at the failed American Dream amongst post-war East Coast suburbanites. Sounds miserable and you're probably right, but the thing is, the writing is just so GOOD. I chuck these books everyone but you really have got to try him. Here are some of my favs:

Revolutionary Road (1961) - His first novel and his most famous (helped by Kate and Leo re-teaming on its film adaptation in 2008). It's centred around the Wheelers, a seemingly perfect suburban family (nice house, money, 2 kids etc) but they think they're meant for more than that, that they're better than other people.

Easter Parade (1976) - Again, seems that Yates was inspired by his own family troubles: "Neither of the Grimes sisters would have a happy life, and looking back it always seemed that the trouble began with their parents’ divorce."

The Collected Stories of Richard Yates (2001) - Put together since his death, this is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to get an idea of Yates' writing before starting on a novel.

"If my work has a theme, I suspect it is a simple one: that most human beings are inescapably alone, and therein lies their tragedy." Richard Yates, Boston Review (Oct '99)