Biography

Edward Riche is one of Newfoundland’s most versatile and funny writers. In addition to being a celebrated novelist, Riche is known for his radio, television and stage work. His first novel, Rare Birds, was published in 1997 and in 2001 was adapted into a movie, for which Riche wrote the screenplay. The Nine Planets (2004), Riche’s second novel, was the winner of the Winterset Award and the Thomas Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award. When it comes to television and radio, Riche has had an extensive relationship with the CBC. He has written for CBC Radio’s The Great Eastern and Sunny Days and Nights and has contributed to CBC Television’s comedy show Made in Canada. While it was Rare Birds that saw most widespread success in terms of Riche’s film work, he has previously written the movie script for the National Film Board-produced Secret Nation, a 1992 feature film about a conspiracy behind Newfoundland joining confederation. Riche’s plays include Possible Maps and List of Lights. He currently lives in St. John’s.

Bibliography

Publications
  • Rare Birds. Toronto: Doubleday Canada, 1997.
  • The Nine Planets. Toronto: Viking Canada, 2004.
  • Easy to Like. Toronto: Anansi, 2011.
Films
  • Secret Nation. Montreal: National Film Board of Canada, 1992.
  • Rare Birds. Los Angeles: Lions Gate Home Entertainment: Trimark Home Video, 2001.
Selected Overviews
The Nine Planets
Rare Birds

Click on selected overview to read...

Critical Sources

  • Chafe, Paul. "Living the Authentic Life at 'The Far End of the Eastern World': Edward Riche's Rare Birds 33.2 (2008): 171-90.
  • Dinka, Nicholas. Rev. of The Nine Planets, by Edward Riche Quill & Quire 70.11 (2004): 26.
  • Garvie, Maureen. Rev. of Rare Birds, by Edward Riche Quill & Quire 63.7 (1997): 45.
  • Gooch, Bryan N.S. “Reflections of the Rock.” Canadian Literature 165 (2000): 154-5.
  • Halford, Tom. Rev. of Easy to Like, by Edward Riche. Newfoundland and Labrador Studies 26.2 (2011): 289-91.
  • LaVigne, Chris. “Acerbic and Irritating.” Rev. of The Nine Planets, by Edward Riche. Books in Canada 33.8 (2004): 11.
  • Wyile, Herb. "An Equal-Opportunity Satirist: An Interview with Edward Riche." Studies in Canadian Literature 33.2 (2008): 210-28.

Videos

On His Background (14.3mb)
On Tourism (15.6mb)
On Marty Devereaux of The Nine Planets (8mb)