Anne Tyler

American novelist · United States · On the map · Writers · Born 1941 · age 85

Anne Tyler is an American novelist, short story writer, and literary critic. She has published twenty-five novels, including Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant (1982), The Accidental Tourist (1985), and Breathing Lessons (1988).

Anne Tyler is read about 270 times a day, in 37 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 6 November 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 104 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

2020“I am very comfortable writing as a man, and I think that’s because I had really good men in my life.”In their wordsOn writing male characters in “Anne Tyler: 'Up close you’ll always see things to be optimistic about'” in The Guardian (2020 Apr 11)Read the whole statement

“I know the world does not need another book from me, but I have nothing else to do with myself. I have no hobbies.”In their wordsOn her writing process in “Anne Tyler: 'Up close you’ll always see things to be optimistic about'” in The Guardian (2020 Apr 11)Read the whole statement

“…‘I think I was a better writer when I was younger.’…I was more detailed, I took more time. It’s not as if I’m in a rush now, but I trust the reader more.”In their wordsOn how she compares her writings in in “Anne Tyler: 'Up close you’ll always see things to be optimistic about'” in The Guardian (2020 AprRead the whole statement

1989Pulitzer Prize for FictionAward1985National Book Critics Circle Award for FictionAward1980Janet Heidinger Kafka PrizeAward1941Born25 October 1941

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In their own words 1

Anne Tyler

One statement

I’m more in touch with my emotions and the visceral sensory from childhood than any other part of life.
On still being connected to childhood memories in “Anne Tyler: 'Up close you’ll always see things to be optimistic about'” in The Guardian, Own words

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Awards

Pulitzer Prize for Fiction1989

National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction1985

Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize1980

About this person

All three were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and Breathing Lessons won the prize in 1989. She has also won the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize, the Ambassador Book Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award. In 2012 she was awarded The Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence. Tyler's twentieth novel, A Spool of Blue Thread, was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2015, and Redhead By the Side of the Road was longlisted for the same award in 2020.

Country

United States