Wendell Berry

Wendell E. Berry (1934-2026) was an American novelist, poet, environmental activist, cultural critic, and farmer. A prolific author, he wrote many novels, short stories, poems, and essays. He was an elected member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers, a recipient of The National Humanities Medal, and the Jefferson Lecturer for 2012. Hewas also a 2013 Fellow of The American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Berry was named the recipient of the 2013 Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award. On January 28, 2015, he became the first living writer to be ushered into the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame. (Updated 09/2026)