Mordecai Richler Was Here

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Topic spans: 1957 - 2002

Mordecai Richler Was Here

When Mordecai Richler left Canada for Paris, he was a brooding young intellectual with lots to say. He returned a prolific, respected writer with a keen eye for the absurd and the magnetism to charm or anger just about all of his contemporaries. From Montreal's Jewish ghetto to Quebec nationalism to boring Anglophones to hypocritical politicians – the incomparable Richler commented, questioned, laughed and angered.

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Richler's version

Broadcast Date: May 23, 1999

At 68, Richler is Canada's grand old man of fiction and writing. His last novel, Barney's Version, revolves around an aging writer obsessed with his failures, his estranged wife, and his failing body. It is hailed as Richler's finest work. In this CBC Radio interview, Richler discusses his fiction and non-fiction work, the one lawsuit he evaded, his recurring cast of characters, and his constant theme of trying to discern "how to live with honour in a time when there's no agreement on values."

Richler's version

• Barney's Version was a hit in Italy where it sold more than 70,000 copies. In 2001, Richler and his wife Florence were invited to Italy to celebrate the success. He was treated as a celebrity, with the Italian newspaper Il Foglio documenting his every move, what kind of cocktail he drank, where he slept, etc. Il Foglio also ran a Barney's Version column by Andrea Marcenara, which was later titled Andrea's Version, which espoused politically incorrect views on social and political issues.

• Many critics and fans have long speculated that Richler's novels were autobiographical. They pointed, for example, to Joshua of Joshua Then and Now's predilection for the same brand of alcohol and cigarettes. Many believed the title character in Barney's Version was modelled on Richler's own reported hard-drinking ways. Richler long claimed that while he drew ideas from his life, his work wasn't autobiographical. On the subject of his alleged heavy drinking habits he said, "I don't drink nearly as much as people think. But I enjoy the reputation."

• Richler won the prestigious Giller Prize for Barney's Version in 1997. The prize is given by Jack Rabinovitch in honour of his late wife Doris Giller. Richler and Rabinovitch were lifelong friends and attended Baron Byng high school together. Rabinovitch credited Richler with the idea of creating the Giller Prize in 1994.

• On Nov. 15, 2000, Richler was appointed a Companion to the Order of Canada. "His characters speak of struggle and triumph; his stories bring St. Urbain and Crescent Street to the world. Colourful and sometimes controversial, he is one of Canada's foremost satirists, well known for his essays and columns. His novels and works of non-fiction have come to form part of our nation's cultural heritage and many have been recognized with honours, including two Governor General's Literary Awards and the Commonwealth Writers Award."

Richler's version

Medium: Radio

Program: Writers & Company

Broadcast Date: May 23, 1999

Guest(s): Mordecai Richler

Host: Eleanor Wachtel

Duration: 33:08

Last updated:
June 30, 2009

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