Elizabeth Strout (born January 6, 1956) is an American novelist and short‑story writer. She is best known for her depiction of everyday life in small‑town America, particularly in the fictional town of Amgash, Illinois, which serves as the setting for several of her works. Strout's novel Olive Kitteridge (2008) won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2017, and her novella The Burgess Boys (2013) was a finalist for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction.
Early life and education
Strout was born in Portland, Maine, to Edward and Harry Strout. She grew up in the nearby town of Limerick, Maine. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in literature from Amherst College in 1978 and later obtained a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop in 1989.
Career
Strout's debut novel, Amy and Isabelle (1992), was a finalist for the National Book Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award. Her subsequent novels include Olive Kitteridge (2008), The Burgess Boys (2013), My Name Is Lucy Barton (2016), Anything Is Possible (2017), Olive, Again (2019), Oh William! (2021), and The Evening and the Morning (2023). In addition to novels, she has published several collections of short stories, such as The Burgess Boys and The Turning of the Keys (1999).
Strout's work often explores themes of family dynamics, personal loss, and the complexities of human relationships. Her prose style is noted for its quiet realism and attention to ordinary moments. She has received numerous literary honors, including the Guggenheim Fellowship (1995), the PEN/Malamud Award (2012), and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (2017).
Personal life
Strout lives in New York City with her husband, James Wood, a literary critic and professor. Details of her private life are generally kept out of the public domain.
Bibliography (selected)
- Amy and Isabelle (1992)
- Abide with Me (1994)
- The Burgess Boys (2013)
- Olive Kitteridge (2008) – Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, 2017
- My Name Is Lucy Barton (2016)
- Anything Is Possible (2017)
- Olive, Again (2019)
- Oh William! (2021)
- The Evening and the Morning (2023)
Recognition
Strout's work has been widely translated and has sold millions of copies worldwide. She continues to be a prominent figure in contemporary American literature.