Anne Tyler is an acclaimed American novelist and short story writer, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1941. Raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, she later attended Duke University, graduating at the age of nineteen. Tyler then pursued graduate studies in Russian studies at Columbia University.
Tyler's writing career has been marked by remarkable success and critical acclaim. She has published over twenty novels, starting with her debut, 'If Morning Ever Comes' in 1964. Her eleventh novel, 'Breathing Lessons,' received the Pulitzer Prize in 1988, a testament to her literary prowess. Among her many accolades are the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize, the PEN/Faulkner Award, the Ambassador Book Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award.
Tyler's work is often associated with Southern fiction or modern American fiction, though she herself does not favor categorization. Her narratives often focus on family and marriage in America, exploring the conflicts and dynamics within these relationships. Several of her works have been adapted for film, including 'The Accidental Tourist,' 'Breathing Lessons,' 'Saint Maybe,' 'A Slipping-Down Life,' 'Earthly Possessions,' and 'Back When We Were Grownups'. Despite her numerous awards and recognitions, Tyler remains a humble and private author, residing in Baltimore, Maryland.