Mordecai Richler was a renowned Canadian writer famous for his children’s fantasy series ‘Jacob Two-Two’, ‘The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz’, ‘Barney's Version’ and ‘Solomon Gursky Was Here’. Apart from his fictional works, he also wrote numerous essays which voiced his opinions about Canadian and Quebec nationalism. Richler raised a few eyebrows through his controversial essays about nationalism and anti-Semitism. Richler was a versatile author who also ventured into writing movie scripts, anthologies, travel journals and short stories. His list of accolades includes honors such as Governor General's Award, Screenwriters Guild of America Award, Giller Prize and Commonwealth Writers Prize. Besides receiving a star in the Canadian Wall of Fame, he was also presented with Honorary Doctorate of Letters from prestigious institution such as McGill University, Montreal and Bishop's University, Lennoxville. His works have been heavily criticized for its polemicist approach. Fortunately for Richler, he gathered support from celebrated journalists such as Robert Fulford and Peter Gzowski, who claim Richler as an orator of uncomfortable truths. Here are some of the famous quotes from this legendary American author, highlighting his thoughts and sayings.
Mr. Bernard died on a Monday, at the age of seventy-five, his body wasted. He lay in state for two days in the lobby of the Bernard Gursky Tower and, as he failed to rise on the third, he was duly buried.
Mordecai Richler
I'm world-famous,” Dr. Parks said, “all over Canada.
Mordecai Richler
All writing is about the same thing - it's about dying, about the brief flicker of time we have here, and the frustration it creates
I'm rambling again. Wandering off the point. But this is the true story of my wasted life...
Mordecai Richler
Damn damn damn.
Mordecai Richler
Ai miei tempi quando una donna diventava una star del cinema doveva girare in occhiali da sole e foulard, se non voleva essere fermata ogni due metri; adesso basta che si vesta.
Mordecai Richler
It seems to me that our lives are consumed by countless wasting years, but only a few shining moments. I missed mine. Yes is what I should have said. Of course I should have said yes.
A boy can be two, three, four potential people, but a man is only one. He murders the others.
Mordecai Richler
Some of the attitudes of Barney are certainly attitudes I share, but not all.
Mordecai Richler
If you're writing a novel, you're in a room for three or four years. There's not much coming in from the outside.
Mordecai Richler
I'm criticized by the feminists, by the Jewish establishment, by Canadian nationalists. And why not? I've had my pot shots at them. I'm fair game.
Mordecai Richler
I obviously prefer writing novels but I take my journalism very seriously, and I enjoy doing it between novels. It gives me an opportunity to move in the outside world.
Mordecai Richler
We live in the country, and I have a huge library there. When we go to London for the winter I never know which books to take. I never know what I am going to need. That's the only disadvantage.
Mordecai Richler
The process hasn't changed, but the writer has developed. I still get up every morning and go to work.
Mordecai Richler
Everybody writes a book too many.
Mordecai Richler
Coming from Canada, being a writer and Jewish as well, I have impeccable paranoia credentials.
Mordecai Richler
In Canada, nobody is ever overthrown because nobody gives a damn.
Mordecai Richler
Fundamentally, all writing is about the same thing; it's about dying, about the brief flicker of time we have here, and the frustration that it creates.
