Europe 1 with AFP 8:45 p.m., January 8, 2023
A great figure in contemporary literature, the American novelist Russell Banks died on Saturday at the age of 82 following cancer.
The author of "Continents Adrift" and "Cloud Slayer" has "passed away peacefully at his home in upstate New York," writer Joyce Carol Oates announced Sunday morning.
The American novelist Russell Banks, a great figure in contemporary literature, known for his portraits of the working class, died Saturday at the age of 82 from cancer.
The author of
Continents Adrift
and
Cloudsplitter
has "passed away peacefully at his home in upstate New York," writer Joyce Carol Oates announced Sunday morning.
"All of his work was exceptional," she praised on Twitter.
recalling how in the late 1990's Russell Banks & I, whose offices at Princeton were across the hall from each other, were toiling away on our long novels--"Cloudsplitter" & "Blonde"--complaining to each other of how difficult the writing was (since no one else wanted to hear).
— Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) January 8, 2023
Two works adapted into a film
Novelist, short story writer and poet, Russell Banks loved to tell the hardships of the working class through characters who struggle with poverty, drug addiction, class and race issues.
The author won the John-Dos-Passos prize in 1995 and many other awards.
Two of his works have also been the subject of widely acclaimed films.