Mordecai Richler

Cancer claimed Mordecai Richler on July 3, 2001. He rests here in Montreal, in Mount Royal Cemetery. Richler’s connection to Montreal was complex. He was born here on January 27, 1931, raised on St. Urbain Street in the Mile End. This neighborhood, with its peeling balconies and weedy patches, became the backdrop for much of his writing. He captured the Jewish community’s life in the 1930s and ’40s, the hardships, and the vibrant characters that populated his world. His most famous work, “The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz”, published in 1959, brought this neighborhood to life. Richler left Montreal at nineteen for Paris, seeking the same inspiration as the Lost Generation. He returned in 1952, worked briefly at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, then moved to London in 1954. Seven of his ten novels were published during his time in London. But Montreal pulled him back. In 1972, he returned, saying he worried “about being so long away from the roots of my discontent.” He portrayed his old neighborhood repeatedly in his novels. Mordecai Richler was a controversial figure, a polemicist who challenged Quebec nationalism and language laws. His essays, particularly “Oh Canada! Oh Quebec!”, sparked outrage and debate. He was a proud Montrealer, even as he criticized its flaws. He was a complex man who loved and wrestled with his city. Richler received numerous awards for his writing, including Governor General’s Awards and the Giller Prize. He also wrote children’s books, essays, and even screenplays. His legacy lives on, not just in his books, but in the streets and spirit of Montreal. He sought to be an “honest witness” to his time. His words continue to resonate, a testament to his complex relationship with the city he called home.