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Wendell Berry, Agrarian Voice, Dies at 92
1 Sep
Summary
- Author Wendell Berry, celebrated farming and warned against industrial society, has died.
- He published over 40 books, influencing writers like Michael Pollan and Alice Waters.
- Berry lived deliberately, shunning modern technology and protesting environmental damage.
Wendell Berry, a renowned Kentucky-born author and agrarian philosopher, passed away at 92. His extensive body of work, comprising over 40 books, championed the farming communities of his home state while cautioning against the excesses of industrialization. Berry's influential ideas on agriculture and simple living impacted prominent figures like Michael Pollan and Alice Waters.
Born in 1934 in Henry County, Kentucky, Berry developed a deep connection to the land from his youth. He later settled at Lanes Landing in Kentucky, choosing a life deliberately detached from modern conveniences like computers and televisions. This commitment extended to his activism, including protests against strip-mining.
Berry's prolific career earned him significant accolades, including a National Humanities Medal and a lifetime achievement award from the National Book Critics Circle, though he never received a Pulitzer or National Book Award. His writings continue to inspire reflection on prosperity, happiness, and the authentic value of work and life.
