Russell Banks

American writer of fiction and poetry who dedicated his sixth novel Affliction (1989) to his dad, a pipe fitter who died in 1979. With an alcoholic father, he experienced a childhood of turbulence and confusion. He was the eldest of four kids and was beat up by his dad every once in a while. Despite his home life, he excelled in sports and academics. When he was 12, his dad left the family, leaving a love-hate relationship behind him.

Banks became a clerk, and was married and a father at the age of 19. He repeated his dad's pattern of abusive drinking and was divorced in 1960. His second marriage occurred in 1963, lasted until 1977 and produced three daughters. After his divorce, he went back to school, working as a teacher as he wrote. His third marriage lasted for five years, and the fourth was to poet Chase Twichell.

Banks died from cancer at his home in Saratoga Springs, New York, on 7 January 2023 at the age of 82.