Russell Banks is the author of sixteen works of fiction, many of which depict seismic events in US history, such as the fictionalized journey of John Brown in Cloudsplitter. His work has been translated into twenty languages and has received numerous international prizes, and two of his novels—The Sweet Hereafter and Affliction—have been made into award-winning films. His latest novel, The Reserve, was published in January 2008. President of the International Parliament of Writers and former New York State Author, Banks lives in Keene and Saratoga Springs, New York.