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Mordecai Richler, CC ( January 27 , 1931 - July 3 , 2001 ) was a Canadian author, scriptwriter and essayist. Richler was among Canada's best known and most widely published writers. He was also a controversial public figure. Richler's uncompromising opinions on contemporary Canadian issues easily matched, and sometimes exceeded, the Satirical sting of his fiction. The son of a scrapyard dealer, Richler was born and raised on St. Urbain Street in Montreal, Quebec -- a neighbourhood he would later immortalize in his novels. Richler enrolled in Sir George Williams University (now Concordia University) to study English but dropped out before completing his degree. Richler moved to Paris at age 19, intent on following in the footsteps of a previous generation of literary exiles. He lived in Paris for several years, then moved to London, England. He returned to Montreal in 1972. Richler's career took off with the publication of '' movie version was directed by Richler's friend Ted Kotcheff and starred Richard Dreyfuss in his first leading role. Richler and Lionel Chetwynd co-wrote the screenplay. Throughout his career, Richler wrote acerbic journalistic commentary. He had little tolerance for pomposity, pretense or provincialism. Often derisive of the Quebec Separatist s, Richler was a critic of Quebec's restrictive Language Laws . Another favorite target was the government-subsidized Canlit movement of the 1970s and 80s. In later years, the onetime Enfant Terrible seemed happy to settle into the role of curmudgeon. What never changed were Richler's caustic comments and disheveled appearance. He was more than willing to say the unsayable — though often in a weary mumble, with head bowed, hair askew and drink in hand. Admirers praised Richler for daring to tell uncomfortable truths. A 2004 oral biography by Michael Posner was entitled ''The Last Honest Man''. Richler frequently said in interviews that his goal was to be a honest witness to his time and place, and to write at least one book that would be read after his death. His work was championed by journalists Robert Fulford and Peter Gzowski , among others. Detractors called Richler's Satire heavy handed and noted his propensity for recycling material. Some critics thought Richler more adept at sketching striking scenes than crafting coherent narratives. Richler's ambivalent relationship with Montreal's Jewish community was captured in ''Mordecai and Me,'' a book by Joel Yanofsky published in 2003. Richler was also the subject of a 1986 National Film Board of Canada documentary by Alan Handel. Among Richler's many awards and honours was a 1990 Commonwealth Writers Prize . Richler was made a Companion of the Order Of Canada in 2001, just a few months before his death. It was an ironic finale that might have made a memorable scene in a Richler novel: a fierce critic of the Canadian establishment accepting the country's highest honour. Richler raised five children with his wife Florence. The best known is his stepson, Daniel , a longstanding figure in Canadian media and broadcasting. In ''The Last Honest Man'' friends made special mention of Richler's happy marriage and his warm family life. Mordecai Richler is interred in the Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal. AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
BIBLIOGRAPHY Fiction
Fiction for young adults
Travel
Essays
Nonfiction
Anthologies
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