Hailed as a masterpiece of realistic fiction and as the most evocative portrayal of the opulent desolation of the American suburbs since it's publication in 1961, Revolutionary Road is the story of Frank and April Wheeler, a bright, beautiful, and talented couple who have lived on the assumption that greatness is only just around the corner. With heartbreaking compassion and remorseless clarity, Richard Yates shows how Frank and April mortgage their spiritual birthright, betraying not only each other, but their best selves.
In his introduction to this edition, novelist Richard Ford pays homage to the lasting influence and enduring power of Revolutionary Road.
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"I read this book after seeing the movie with Kate and Leo. It is such an interesting, sad, and all too common story of young love turning into old love. It would be easy to say that the main characters are two selfish brats who are willing to cheat each other anyway that can to get what they want. They take each other for granted and they blame each other for the life that made together and they feel completely justified in doing so. There lies the problem, when you believe what you think is real and the truth without considering the people who depend and need you. This is a cautionary tale with no real solution -- someone has to be the unhappy one, right?"
— Annab (5 out of 5 stars)
" Same issues, different time. Very enjoyable and insightful "
— Suzanne, 2/20/2014" i found this book to be so boring that i couldn't even get passed the midway point. I thought the movie was so much better. "
— Andria, 2/16/2014" Never saw the movie, never will. But, I liked the book a lot. Very Meaningful in an odd way. "
— Tom, 2/6/2014" I didn't see the movie, but I figured that if I liked "The Reader" I might like this one, and I was right. I reviewed Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections and said it was a sad, cynical view on the modern family, but this is much better. Some happy, some sad, some struggle, and some victory. Realistic, moving, good work. The ending is sad. I didn't agree with her decision, but I understood why she did what she did. Please read it. A- "
— Rebekah, 1/22/2014" Despite its tired themes, I LOVED this novel!! I particularly loved to hate the main characters, and found the imagery beautiful. "
— Rachel, 1/16/2014" Just a little hint-don't read this book as your own marriage is crumbling, it sure as hell won't cheer you up (at least it didn't work for me). Maybe the fact that it is possible to identify so easily with this couple is a tribute to the author's ability to express the character's "inner voices". I appreciate when complex subjects like marital relationships and people coming to terms with their dream life vs their real life, are dealt with intelligently. In real life, issues like these are not usually straightforward and neither are the humans involved. The ending is a little shocking, depressing and maybe a little over the top even "
— Barb, 1/13/2014" Great characters, great set-up, great period piece. Hadn't read anything greater than 10 years old in a long time. Nice time travel, didn't like the ending, work is just south of brilliant. "
— Adam, 1/11/2014" I never saw the movie but the book was excellent. I don't know how this would make an enjoyable movie that you would be forced to sit through from beginning to end. The best thing about the book was that you could put it down when things got to intense. "
— Thomas, 1/10/2014" I loved this book. It was so raw, so haunting, despite (or maybe because of) the dry narration and bland dialogue. The ending of course left me in shock. "
— Liz, 1/1/2014" too depressing, but well written. "
— Lauren, 12/18/2013" Richard Yates is a genius. "
— McCutcheon, 11/21/2013" The best suburban horror story every written. Hands down. "
— Erik, 9/29/2013" sometimes impenetrable, other times beautifully insightful. the voice is just incredible. "
— Florence, 9/26/2013" A sad state of modern suburban average family. It's more what I made of it than the actual writing... Still long way to go to come even close to classics "
— Jasmina, 7/29/2013" I read this book as part of my bookclub and I have to say I found it really boring. I felt like I was waiting for something exciting to happen throughout the whole of the book. "
— Amanda, 2/14/2013" The narrator was a little too misogynistic for my taste (a reflection of the early 60's?), but compelling storytelling, nonetheless. Excellent exercise in how to introduce characters and no-fuss prose that gets right to the point. "
— Marc, 8/27/2012" An excellent, beautifully-written book. Richard Yates is such an underrated author. "
— Mary, 5/25/2012" A little depressing, but very well written! "
— Crystal, 4/1/2012" This is the ultimate "how-not-to" marriage manual. If you want to be married, just do the opposite of anything and everything these two characters did. Fascinating at first, but incredibly disappointing and depressing in the end. I did, however, enjoy the photo of Leonardo Di Caprio on the cover. "
— Janet, 3/4/2012" One of the best books I have ever read on the intricacies of the dance called marriage. "
— Joanna, 11/22/2011" Good book. The ending is very distressing. It's interesting to notice that some things haven't changed so much since the 1950s, and the story could easily be rewritten today. By the way, I've seen the movie as well. Not bad, DiCaprio and Winslet are good, but the book is much more detailed. "
— Bruno, 9/19/2011" It's Richard Yates, my more articulate and talented alter ego. "
— Rahul, 8/24/2011" Kind of a bummer. "
— Steev, 8/18/2011" May have bored me if I didn't have a good professor who made it interesting to me. Enjoyed it even though I did not like any of the characters. "
— Kyle, 5/15/2011" Want to learn about a life of crushing suburban compromise and dream shattering existential crises? This is the book for you. "
— Kyle, 5/9/2011" One of my all-time favorites. Cruel truth uncovered about marriage and life in general. . . "
— Nobuko, 5/8/2011" Harrowing, more devastating than the film. "
— Maggy, 5/8/2011" Beautifully written, but such a downer. I was relieved when I finished it. "
— Jill, 5/7/2011" I have not seen the movie yet...My interest was maintained, but I felt like the characters just need to get over it. Both kept dragging their upbringings as a reason for their apathy. There was no triumph to any of their self discovery. "
— Vanessa, 4/28/2011" Flawed people in the 1950s living sad lives "
— Dan, 4/27/2011" I absolutely loved this book. It's a warning about having unfulfilled dreams eat away at you as you settle into a life of suburban mediocrity. My worst nightmare. Incredible insight into human behaviour. Really well-written. "
— Lisandra, 4/26/2011" enjoyed, in a bad way almost, this book. i hate to admit this, but i saw the movie before reading this book. Usually the movie pales in comparison to the book, but i found the movie to be faithful to the storyline, characters and the tone of the overall book.<br/><br/>loved it! "
— Supermophed, 4/21/2011Richard Yates (1926–1992) was the author of the novels Revolutionary Road, A Special Providence, Disturbing the Peace, The Easter Parade, A Good School, Young Hearts Crying, and Cold Spring Harbor, as well as the short-story collections Eleven Kinds of Loneliness and Liars in Love.
Mark Bramhall has won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration, more than thirty AudioFile Earphones Awards, and has repeatedly been named by AudioFile magazine and Publishers Weekly among their “Best Voices of the Year.” He is also an award-winning actor whose acting credits include off-Broadway, regional, and many Los Angeles venues as well as television, animation, and feature films. He has taught and directed at the American Academy of Dramatic Art.