Wendell Berry
Also known as Wendell Erdman Berry
American farmer, essayist, poet and novelist (1934 to 2026) of agrarian life.
At a glance
Main ideas
Agrarianism, Solving for pattern, Christian pacifism …
See all 4Books to start with
A Place on Earth, The Unsettling of America, The Gift of Good Land …
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bell hooks and The Unsettling of America
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Also on this page: Key facts · Links · Sources · Related pages
- Berry was a Kentucky writer and farmer closely identified with rural life.
- His essays, especially The Unsettling of America (1977), argued against industrial agriculture and for small farms, local economies and care for the land.
- His novels and stories of the fictional town of Port William explore the same themes.
- He was also an environmental and anti-war activist.
Why it matters
- He is the leading voice of modern American agrarianism and a major influence on the local food and sustainable farming movements.
Key facts
- Born
- 5 Aug 1934, Louisville, Kentucky1
- Died
- 31 Aug 20261
- Education
- BA (1956) and MA (1957) in English, University of Kentucky; Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford (1958)1
- Teaching
- New York University from 1962 to 1964; University of Kentucky from 1964 to 19771
- Honours
- National Humanities Medal; Jefferson Lecture (2012); American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2013); American Academy of Arts and Letters from 20141
- Berry Center
- Established in New Castle, Kentucky, in 20111
Main ideas
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Agrarianism1
Small farms, local economies, good work and connection to place make a good life.
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Solving for pattern1
Solutions that solve several problems at once while creating few new ones.
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Christian pacifism1
He took the Gospel seriously and opposed all forms of violence.
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Against coal1
He protested mountaintop removal and removed his papers from the University of Kentucky over its ties to coal.
Books to start with
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Connections
Links
Sources
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