It is a monument that has gone.
American writer Russell Banks died of cancer on Saturday, his editor Dan Halpern told the Associated Press (AP) on Sunday.
Author notably of "Des beaux matins" and "Affliction", he was considered one of the most important progressive writers of our era.
The author was, since 1998, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
“I adored Russell and I adored his immense talent and his magnanimous heart, paid tribute on Twitter the author Joyce Carol Oates.
Cloudsplitter
is his masterpiece, but all of his work is outstanding.
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very sad news that a great American writer, Russell Banks, beloved friend of so many, passed away peacefully last night in his home in upstate NY.
I loved Russell & loved his tremendous talent & magnanimous heart.
"Cloudsplitter"--his masterpiece.
but all his work is exceptional
— Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) January 8, 2023
The son of a plumber, Russell Banks often wrote about working-class families.
"Over the years, I think I've managed to make my anger consistent with myself, and that has allowed me to become more lucid as a human being, as a writer," he explained. in the early 1990s, according to AP reports.
And the author then continues: “It is very difficult to be a decent human being if you are controlled by an anger that you cannot understand.
When you begin to gain this understanding, you begin to become useful to others.
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A politician in his own way
Russell Banks used his notoriety to give his opinion, even criticizing his government, against the American intervention in Iraq or the Patriot Act anti-terrorism law.
He had also for a time taken the head of the International Parliament of Writers and had founded "Cities of Refuge North America", an organization helping writers threatened or in exile.