Richard Francis was educated at Cambridge and Harvard. He has written 17 books, both fiction and nonfiction, including a number of books on American history and thought. His award-winning novels and books of nonfiction have been published by leading houses in London and New York, including Fourth Estate, Simon & Schuster, Harper Collins, W.W. Norton, Faber & Faber, and Pantheon. He and his wife live in Bath.
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Richard Francis
All Richard Francis's books
Latest reviews
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“Few have so nimbly conjured with Sewall and his silence as Richard Francis, author of an excellent 2005 biography of the Salem justice."— The New York Review of Books, Mar 9 2017![]()
"Crane Pond succeeds wonderfully, conveying mania without condescension and honoring decency without any suggestion of cynicism."— Open Letters Monthly, Nov 25 2016![]()
"In Crane Pond, Richard Francis creates a nuanced, compassionate and fascinating portrait of Samuel Sewall, the unwilling hanging judge...taking us beyond the complacency with which we often view this iconic moment in American history."— Historical Novel Society, Nov 2 2016![]()
"The paralysing effect of mob psychology and the shocking passive acceptance of brutality make Crane Pond a profoundly thoughtful, gripping, at times harrowing reading experience."— Bookanista, Oct 31 2016![]()
“Crane Pond is fascinatingly engaging and thought provoking, the best kind of storytelling.”— Shelf Awareness, Oct 14 2016![]()
"Fans of Stacy Schiff's meticulous research of The Witches: Salem, 1692 and Oliver Pötzsch's solemn tone in The Hangman's Daughter will relish this well-imagined personal journey."— Library Journal (Starred Review), Sep 15 2016![]()
"A finely crafted consideration of responsibility within a familiar historical tale."— Kirkus Reviews, Aug 4 2016
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