Origins & Early Life

Richard Walden Yates (February 3, 1926 – November 7, 1992) was an American fiction writer identified with the mid-century "Age of Anxiety." His first novel, Revolutionary Road, was a finalist for the 1962 National Book Award, while his first short story collection, Eleven Kinds of Loneliness, brought comparisons to James Joyce. Critical acclaim for his writing, however, was not reflected in commercial success during his lifetime. Interest in Yates has revived somewhat since his death, partly because of an influential 1999 essay by Stewart O'Nan in the Boston Review, a 2003 biography by Blake Bailey and the 2008 Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning film Revolutionary Road starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio. Yates was born in Yonkers, New York, the son of Vincent Yates and Ruth Walden Maurer.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He came from an unstable home; his parents divorced when he was three, and much of his childhood was spent in many different towns and residences. He first became interested in journalism and writing while attending Avon Old Farms School in Avon, Connecticut. After leaving Avon, Yates joined the Army, serving in France and Germany during World War II. By...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• 1926 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1926
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• 1992 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1992
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