Marilynne Robinson American writer and essayist Date of Birth: 26.11.1943 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Literary Career
3. Academic and Public Engagements
4. Religious Influences
5. Critical Acclaim

Early Life and Education

Marilynne Summers Robinson was born on November 26, 1943, in Sandpoint, Idaho. She completed her undergraduate studies at Pembroke College, Brown University, graduating with honors in 1966. Robinson received her Ph.D. in English from the University of Washington in 1977.

Literary Career

Robinson's literary career has garnered numerous accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2005 for her novel "Gilead." Her other highly acclaimed works include "Housekeeping" (1980) and "Home" (2008). "Housekeeping" was shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize in 1982, and "Home" won the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2009.

In addition to her novels, Robinson has authored several nonfiction works, including "Mother Country" (1989), "The Death of Adam" (1998), "Absence of Mind" (2010), and "When I Was a Child I Read Books" (2012). She has also contributed numerous articles, essays, and reviews to publications such as "Harper's," "The Paris Review," and "The New York Times Book Review."

Academic and Public Engagements

Robinson has held residencies and visiting professorships at various institutions, including the University of Kent, Amherst College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She delivered lectures at Yale University in 2009, focusing on her work "Absence of Mind." In 2011, Robinson was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and gave the esteemed Esmond Harmsworth Lecture at Oxford University.

Currently, Robinson serves as a faculty member at the Iowa Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa. She is a vocal advocate for the arts and has given keynote speeches at various events, including the 75th-anniversary celebration of the Iowa Writers' Workshop in 2011.

Religious Influences

Robinson was raised in the Presbyterian Church but later adopted Congregationalism. She occasionally delivers sermons at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Iowa City. Her faith and interest in the ideas of John Calvin have significantly influenced her writing, particularly in her novel "Gilead," which features a fictional Congregationalist minister grappling with life and theological issues.

Critical Acclaim

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has hailed Robinson as "one of the most compelling novelists writing in the English language." He has also stated, "Robinson is a voice that we urgently need to heed, in both church and secular society." In 2013, Robinson was shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize.