A stirring narrative of memory and parental love, author Richard Ford tells of his mother, Edna, a feisty Catholic girl with a difficult past, and his father, Parker, a sweet-natured soft-spoken traveling salesman, both born at the turn of the twentieth century in rural Arkansas. For Ford, the questions of what his parents dreamed of and how they loved each other and him became a striking portrait of American life in the mid-century. With his celebrated candor, wit, and intelligence, the award-winning storyteller and creator of the iconic character Frank Bascombe delivers an unforgettable exploration of memory, intimacy, and love. American novelist and short story writer Richard Ford was born in Jackson, Mississippi. His best-known works are the Bascombe novels: The Sportswriter and its sequels, Independence Day, The Lay of the Land and Let Me Be Frank with You.