Russell Banks
Russell Banks is an American writer of fiction and poetry. As a novelist, Banks is best known for his detailed accounts of domestic strife and the lives of ordinary Americans. He has written numerous novels, including 'Continental Drift', 'Rule of the Bone', 'Cloudsplitter', and 'The Sweet Hereafter', the last of which was adapted into a film directed by Atom Egoyan. His work has been recognized with several awards and has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Banks is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
-
1. Affliction
"Affliction" is a powerful and haunting novel about a man named Wade Whitehouse, a small-town cop in New Hampshire, who descends into a spiral of violence and despair triggered by the fear of his own impotence. The narrative delves deep into Wade's past and present life, his struggles with alcoholism, his failed marriage and difficult relationship with his daughter, and his abusive father, all leading to a tragic and shocking climax. The book is a profound exploration of the struggle for self and identity in a harsh and unforgiving environment.
-
2. The Darling
The novel explores the life of a politically radical American woman who, after becoming involved with various revolutionary movements in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s, flees to Liberia to escape the FBI. In Liberia, she marries a government official and becomes embroiled in the country's own political turmoil, witnessing and participating in the complex interplay of power, colonialism, and personal relationships. As the narrative unfolds, the protagonist grapples with her role in the political landscape, her identity, and the consequences of her actions, both in her personal life and in the broader context of the African nation's violent history.
