Picture a Canadian-American storyteller who spun a tale of culinary dreams from Mumbai to Paris—meet Richard C. Morais! Born in Lisbon and raised in Switzerland, Morais crafts heartfelt novels that bridge cultures, blending warmth, humor, and profound insights. His debut, The Hundred-Foot Journey, became a global bestseller and a hit film, inviting readers into worlds where food, faith, and family collide.
With a knack for capturing the human condition, Morais draws on his multicultural roots and Buddhist philosophy to create stories that resonate across borders. Now based in Philadelphia, he continues to weave narratives that celebrate connection and discovery, making him a beloved voice in contemporary fiction.
The Making of Richard C. Morais
Born on October 25, 1960, in Lisbon, Portugal, to an American mother and a Canadian father of Portuguese descent, Richard C. Morais grew up in Switzerland, attending elite schools like the Inter-Community School Zürich. His mother’s work as a Jungian analyst and his own embrace of Buddhism at Sarah Lawrence College shaped his introspective worldview. After graduating in 1981, Morais married Susan Agar and began a 25-year career at Forbes, rising to European Bureau Chief while honing his storytelling craft.
A 1986 Forbes cover story on fashion mogul Pierre Cardin sparked his first book, an unauthorized biography, setting the stage for his pivot to fiction. His global experiences—living in London, Paris, and beyond—infused his writing with a rich, cross-cultural perspective that defines his novels.
Richard C. Morais’s Unforgettable Stories
Morais’s novels are vibrant tapestries of culture, identity, and transformation, often exploring the ‘international soul’—a term he uses to describe those who cross borders to find their place. His debut, The Hundred-Foot Journey (2008), follows Hassan Haji, an Indian chef who rises to culinary stardom in France, clashing and bonding with a Michelin-starred chef. The novel’s lush prose and themes of ambition and acceptance made it a bestseller, later adapted into a 2014 film starring Helen Mirren.
In Buddhaland Brooklyn (2012), Morais tells the story of a Japanese Buddhist priest navigating life in Brooklyn to build a temple. This tender, humorous tale delves into faith and adaptation, showcasing his ability to blend spirituality with everyday struggles. His third novel, The Man with No Borders (2019), follows a Spanish banker in Switzerland confronting his past, weaving family secrets with emotional depth. Morais’s style—lyrical, empathetic, and richly detailed—invites readers to explore diverse worlds through universal human experiences.
His earlier work, Pierre Cardin: The Man Who Became a Label (1991), a biography, revealed his knack for dissecting complex figures, a skill that carries into his fiction. Each book reflects Morais’s global perspective, earning him accolades like semifinalist nods in the William Faulkner Creative Writing Competition.
Why Richard C. Morais Matters
Richard C. Morais’s work transcends borders, offering stories that celebrate cultural diversity and human resilience. His novels, lauded for promoting cross-cultural understanding, earned him the 2015 Citizen Diplomat of the Year Award from Global Ties U.S. By blending humor, heart, and insight, Morais inspires readers to embrace differences and find common ground, making him a vital voice in global literature.
His influence extends beyond books—The Hundred-Foot Journey’s film adaptation brought his vision to millions, while his literary festivals, like the 2023 Rainbow Railroad event, amplify marginalized voices. Morais’s legacy lies in his ability to craft stories that connect us, reminding us that our journeys, however far-flung, are deeply human.
- Birth Date: October 25, 1960
- Key Works: The Hundred-Foot Journey, Buddhaland Brooklyn, The Man with No Borders, Pierre Cardin: The Man Who Became a Label
- Awards: 2015 Citizen Diplomat of the Year, Business Journalist of the Year Awards (3 wins)
Snag The Hundred-Foot Journey and dive into Richard C. Morais’s soulful, culture-spanning stories—your heart and bookshelf will thank you!