Richard Russo was born in 1949 in New York and grew up in a small town. He received bachelor's, master's and PhD degrees from the University of Arizona. Russo worked as a professor and now lives in Maine where he writes novels and screenplays. Some of his notable works include Nobody's Fool, Empire Falls, and The Risk Pool. Empire Falls won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2002. Russo's novels are praised for their relatable characters and depictions of small town life.
2. His Early Years
Born in Johnstown, New York on July 15th, 1949
The son of James W. Russo and Jean Findlay (LeVarn)
Russo.
Grew up in Gloversville, a small town in upstate New
York
Much of his novels are related to where and how he
grew up
3. Education
Attended the University of Arizona from 1967-1979
Degrees Earned:
Bachelor’s degree
A Master of Fine Arts degree
Doctor of Philosophy degree
4. His Life
Richard Russo is an American novelist, short story
writer, screenwriter, and teacher.
He taught for a time at Southern Illinois University
Carbondale in the English department
Went on to teach literature at Colby College before
retiring
He has two daughters and a wife
He now lives and writes in Camden, Maine
5. His Literary Works
Mohawk (1986)
The Risk Pool (1988)
Nobody’s Fool (1993)
Straight Man (1997)
Empire Falls (2001)
The Whore’s Child and Other Stories (2002)
Bridge of Sighs (2007)
That Old Cape Magic (2009)
6. His On Screen Works
Monsters (1989) (TV)
Nobody’s Fool (1994) (based on his novel)
Twilight (1998)
The Flamingo Rising (2001) (TV)
Brush With Fate (2003) (TV)
Empire Falls (2005) (TV)
The Ice Harvest (2005)
Keeping Mum (2005) (TV)
7. “Nobody’s Fool”
Based off of Richard Russo’s novel by the same title
Starred Paul Newman and Bruce Willis among others
Plot: Donald "Sully" Sullivan is something of an oddball in the
peaceful and snowy New York village of North Bath. He free-lances
in the construction business, usually with his dim-witted young
friend Rub by his side, and is often at odds with Carl Roebuck, a
local businessman, flirting with Carl's wife Toby openly at every
opportunity. Sully is a tenant in the home of Miss Beryl, whose
banker son strongly urges her to kick the boarder out. Family
complications of his own develop for Sully with a visit from
Peter, his estranged son. While they reconstruct their
relationship, Sully strikes up a new one with his young grandson
Will. Jailed for punching a police officer named Raymer who has
been persecuting him, Sully's luck seems to be all bad. But in turn
his son and grandson warm up to him, his fortune takes a turn for
the better and even the lovely Toby expresses a willingness to
leave Carl and run away with him. At the end of the film, Sully is
pretty much back where he began, boarding at Miss Beryl's, but this
time the picture of contentment.
Nominated for two Academy Awards
9. Why Readers Love His Work
Richard Russo’s novels have been praised for having
the right balance of humor and seriousness
Readers enjoy his tendency to include characters that
are easy to relate to
He has the ability to draw precise portraits through his
works of life in the Northeast
Russo connects to his readers by writing about
characters who are part of the working class in small
towns, something many people can relate to
10. Richard Russo & Social
Media
Richard Russo has a Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/richardrussoauthor
The page is maintained by his publisher Alfred A
Knopf/Vintage Books
Information posted on his Facebook includes:
Book tour dates
Reviews
News
11. Works Cited
Nobody’s Fool. Wikipedia. Thursday 29 March, 2012.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobody%27s_Fool_(1994_fi
lm)
Richard Russo. Wikipedia. Thursday 29 March, 2012.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russo
Rose, Allison. “Richard Russo Biography.” 2005.
Obtained on Thursday 29 March 2012.
http://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/bios/Russo__R
ichard.html
