Indelibly shaped by his Mississippi childhood, when William Faulkner and Eudora Welty (who lived across the road) were still publishing, Richard Ford was destined to become a writer. His Frank Bascombe series, beginning with The Sportswriter and concluding with his latest novel, Be Mine, is known for its insightful exploration of American life. Bidding farewell to Frank Bascombe, Ford’s near contemporary, Be Mine is suffused with a mixture of sorrow, resilience, and a search for happiness in the face of impending mortality. Ford reflects on his Pulitzer-Prize winning career in conversation with literary critic Regina Marler.

Recorded November 3, 2023