Annie Dillard, Pulitzer prize-winning author of nonfiction and nature essays, dies aged 81
Photograph: Bob Child/APView image in fullscreenAnnie Dillard in 1983. Despite the association, Dillard rejected the pigeonhole label of “nature writer”, instead considering herself a theologian pondering the mystery of God and the duality of reality.In the 1989 collection of short essays, titled The Writing Life, she wrote “how we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives”. Dillard spent her days outdoors taking notes and contemplating everything.Dillard was married three times, most recently to historical biographer Robert D Richardson, whom she was married to for 32 years until his death in 2020.
- ▪Photograph: Bob Child/APView image in fullscreenAnnie Dillard in 1983.
- ▪Despite the association, Dillard rejected the pigeonhole label of “nature writer”, instead considering herself a theologian pondering the mystery of God and the duality of reality.In the 1989 collection of short essays, titled The Writing L
- ▪Dillard spent her days outdoors taking notes and contemplating everything.Dillard was married three times, most recently to historical biographer Robert D Richardson, whom she was married to for 32 years until his death in 2020.
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| Publication time | Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:51:51 GMT |
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Annie Dillard in 1983. Photograph: Bob Child/APView image in fullscreenAnnie Dillard in 1983. Photograph: Bob Child/APBooksAnnie Dillard, Pulitzer prize-winning author of nonfiction and nature essays, dies aged 81Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, published when Dillard was 28, skyrocketed her to become one of the most prominent nonfiction writers of her generationMarina DunbarWed 16 Sep 2026 11.51 EDTLast modified on Wed 16 Sep 2026 11.52 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleAnnie Dillard, author of the Pulitzer prize-winning book Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, died aged 81 at her home in South Wellfleet, Massachusetts on Tuesday.Maggie Nelson, Dillard’s literary editor, confirmed her death to the New York Times.Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, a nonfiction narrative Dillard wrote about the natural world…
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