This article is about the 20th century U.S. fiction writer. For the 19th century governor of Illinois, see Richard Yates (governor).

Richard Yates (1926 - 1992) was an American novelist and short story writer. He gained a certain reputation as a chronicler of mid-20th century mainstream American life.

Born in Yonkers, New York, Yates lived by his pen throughout his life, working as a journalist, freelance ghost writer (briefly also for Senator Robert Kennedy) and publicity writer, eventually starting his career as a novelist in 1961 with the publication of Revolutionary Road .

Twice divorced and the father of three daughters, Yates died of emphysema in Birmingham, Alabama. It has been generally assumed that his heavy drinking contributed decisively to his premature death at age 66.

Fiction

• Revolutionary Road (1961)
• Eleven Kinds of Loneliness (stories) (1962)
• A Special Providence (1969)
• Disturbing the Peace (1975)
• The Easter Parade (1976)
• A Good School (1978)
• Liars in Love (stories) (1981)
• Cold Spring Harbor (1986)
• Young Hearts Crying (1986)

External link

• Stewart O'Nan: The Lost World of Richard Yates. How the great writer of the Age of Anxiety disappeared from print, Boston Review (1999)