Wallace Stegner

Date of Birth: February 18, 1909

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: April 13, 1993

Biography

Wallace Stegner was an American novelist, short story writer, environmentalist, and historian, often referred to as “The Dean of Western Writers.” Born on February 18, 1909, in Lake Mills, Iowa, Stegner’s family moved frequently during his childhood, living in various parts of the western United States and Canada. These experiences significantly influenced his literary works, which often explore themes related to the American West, environmentalism, and the complexities of human relationships. Stegner’s career as a writer and academic spanned over five decades. He published over 30 books, including novels, short story collections, and non-fiction works. His most famous novel, “Angle of Repose,” won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1972. Other notable works include “The Big Rock Candy Mountain,” “Crossing to Safety,” and “The Spectator Bird,” which won the National Book Award in 1977. In addition to his writing, Stegner was a dedicated educator. He founded the Creative Writing Program at Stanford University, which has produced many renowned writers. Stegner was also an advocate for environmental conservation, contributing to the preservation of natural landscapes in the American West.

5 Interesting Facts about Wallace Stegner

1. Wallace Stegner won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1972 for his novel “Angle of Repose.”

2. He founded the Stanford Creative Writing Program, which is renowned for producing many successful writers.

3. Stegner was an environmental advocate and played a significant role in the establishment of the Wilderness Act of 1964.

4. He wrote a famous letter to the Sierra Club, which became an important text in the environmental movement.

5. Stegner’s novel “The Big Rock Candy Mountain” is semi-autobiographical and reflects his own family’s struggles and nomadic lifestyle.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Wallace Stegner

1. “We simply need that wild country available to us, even if we never do more than drive to its edge and look in.”

2. “The hardest thing in the world to know is what it is to do your duty and to do it.”

3. “A teacher enlarges people in all sorts of ways besides just his subject matter.”

4. “Something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed.”

5. “Most things break, including hearts. The lessons of life amount not to wisdom, but to scar tissue and callus.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Wallace Stegner’s highest net worth is not publicly documented, as he was primarily known for his literary contributions and environmental advocacy rather than financial wealth.