Richard Yates called Revolutionary Road his political novel. There is, in fact, no politics in the book. However upon its release in 1961 Richard Yates had produced a novel about dark desperation and the constant want to escape. Although the book was not a financial success in the 1960s it seems Sam Mendes’ film saved the wonderful work of the very under-appreciated writer. Now, however, Richard Yates’ books are for around for all to enjoy.

Revolutionary Road tells the story of Frank and April Wheeler who live in the Connecticut suburbs on the verge of a breakdown. Bored and dissatisfied with their lives April decides to construct a plan – that they move to Paris with their two children and start over. As the plan begins to form events are set in motion that lead to the evitable downfall of not just their plan of happiness but the marriage.

What stands out most about this wonderful novel is the brutal honesty of Yates’ prose. He gives us a group of people – headed by the Wheelers – who all share one feeling: desperation. Each character is desperate in their own unique way and Yates is not afraid of stripping the characters to their core, not afraid for the reader to real understand the character – whether they want to or not. What Yates does well is making your ideas become split – do you side with April, Frank or neither? Who is the most desperate? The most annoying? The most cruel? Whoever you side with – if anyone – the reader is thrown into a confused state, into the bemused, claustrophobic world of the suburbs.

Yates has been penalised for his very simplistic way of writing but it is this simplicity that makes his writing so strong. He uses simple phrases, simple rhythms in his writing that allows us to truly put ourselves in those situations. We question ourselves – what would we do if we were the Wheelers? Would we be brave and fight against the social politics? Or would we slot into what we are supposed to become?

For anyone who is interested in suburban literature or anyone who enjoys reading about normal people and their dissatisfaction with their lives Richard Yates is the man to begin with. He is the grandfather of the suburban literature – many have said he is their inspiration – Nick Hornby and Tom Perrotta to name a few.

Revolutionary Road is not just a terrifically written piece of literature, it’s not just a brutally honest, tragic, book, it’s a book that will have you questioning everything to the very last page. Revolutionary Road is a book that is not kind to its readers – once you enter the dark, troubled world of the Wheelers you are told everything there is to know. Some people will love it, others will hate it but for those that will love it Revolutionary Road may just change the way you look at your own life.

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