Marilynne Robinson

American novelist and essayist · United States · On the map · Writers · Born 1943 · age 82

Marilynne Summers Robinson is an American novelist and essayist. Across her writing career, Robinson has received numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2005, National Humanities Medal in 2012, and the 2016 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction.

Marilynne Robinson is read about 319 times a day, in 38 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 111 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

2020“He had a way of anticipating memories he particularly did not want to have. That memory would be as unbearable as things are when there is nothing else to do but live with them.”In their wordsJack (2020)Read the whole statement

“Why were there an infinite number of ways to feel awkward? He believed this was a theological question having to do with man's place in the universe.”In their wordsJack (2020)Read the whole statement

2018“I don’t really have an ideal reader in mind at all, whether one with or without faith. When I write it is to try to figure out something for my own purposes.”In their wordsOn if she ever envisions an ideal writer in “Marilynne Robinson: ‘I don’t have an ideal reader in mind’” in The Guardian (2018 Feb 25)Read the whole statement

2016Mondello PrizeAward2014National Book Critics Circle Award for FictionAward2012National Humanities MedalAward2009Women's Prize for FictionAward2008“Experience had taught them that truth had sharp edges and hard corners, and could be seriously at odds with kindness.”In their wordsHome (2008)Read the whole statement

“That is why it is called a Spirit," he said. "The word in Hebrew also means wind. 'The Spirit of God brooded on the face of the deep.' It is a sort of enveloping atmosphere.”In their wordsHome (2008)Read the whole statement

“Her family was slower to forgive a failure of discretion than they were to forgive most things actually prohibited in Scripture.”In their wordsHome (2008)Read the whole statement

2006Grawemeyer AwardsAward2005Pulitzer Prize for FictionAward2004National Book Critics Circle Award for FictionAward1999PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the EssayAward1980Hemingway Foundation/PEN AwardAward1943Born26 November 1943

People around Marilynne

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In their own words 4

Marilynne Robinson

4 statements, newest first

She said, "Meaninglessness would come as a terrible blow to most people. It would be full of significance for them. So it wouldn't be meaningless. That's where I always end up.
2020 · Jack (2020), Own words
But prison was terrible. It reduced him to absolute Jack, no matter what anyone thought of him. His great problem, after all, was other people. Prison was full of them.
2020 · Jack (2020), Own words
Many people find it hard to go to church if they've been away for a while. I've seen it very often. And I'd say to them, It's because it means something to you. As it should be!
2008 · Home (2008), Own words

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Awards

Mondello Prize2016

National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction2014

National Humanities Medal2012

Women's Prize for Fiction2009

Grawemeyer Awards2006

Pulitzer Prize for Fiction2005

National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction2004

PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay1999

Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award1980

About this person

In 2016, Robinson was named in Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people. Robinson began teaching at the Iowa Writers' Workshop in 1991 and retired in the spring of 2016.

Country

United States

Where to find them

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What they share with Marilynne

Christine LahtiAlso in Housekeeping (1987)Wayne RobsonAlso in Housekeeping (1987)

Michela MarzanoBoth received Mondello Prize

Christopher HitchensBoth received PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay