Richard Ford

Richard Ford (February 16, 1944- ) is an American novelist and short story writer. His best-known works include the novels The Sportswriter, its award-winning sequel Independence Day, and the widely-anthologized short story "Rock Springs."

Early Life

Ford was born in Jackson, Mississippi, the only son of a traveling salesman for a starch company. When Ford was eight years old, his father had a major heart attack, and thereafter Ford spent as much time with his grandfather, a former prizefighter and hotel owner in Arkansas, as he did with his parents in Mississippi. Ford?s father died of a second heart attack in 1960.

Related Topics:
Jackson, Mississippi - Starch - Heart attack - Arkansas - 1960

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ford received a B. A. from Michigan State University, where he also met Kristina Hensley, his future wife; the two married in 1968 and remain married to this day. Despite a mild dyslexia, Ford developed a serious interest in literature. He has stated in interviews that his dyslexia may in fact have helped him as a reader, as it forced him to approach books at a slow and thoughtful level. Later, Ford briefly attended law school but dropped out to pursue a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in creative writing from the University of California, Irvine, which he received in 1970.

Related Topics:
B. A. - Michigan State University - 1968 - Dyslexia - Literature - Master of Fine Arts - University of California, Irvine - 1970

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~