Wright Morris

Wright Morris was an American novelist, photographer, and essayist renowned for his evocative portrayals of the Great Plains and its inhabitants. His literary career spanned several decades, marked by innovative narrative techniques and a deep engagement with regional identity. Among his most celebrated works, "The Field of Vision" earned the National Book Award in 1956, while his final novel, "Plains Song," received the American Book Award in 1981.

Morris distinguished himself through a unique blend of writing and photography, often capturing the essence of Midwestern life in both mediums. His works frequently explored themes of memory, place, and the passage of time, reflecting his own roots in Nebraska. Beyond fiction, he contributed essays and critical works that further cemented his reputation as a thoughtful observer of American culture. His legacy endures as a testament to the power of regional storytelling and artistic experimentation.
Nebraska Trilogy Books
# Title Year
1 The Inhabitants 1946
2 The Home Place (With: John Hollander) 1948
3 The World in the Attic 1949
Standalone Novels
# Title Year
1 My Uncle Dudley 1942
2 The Man Who was There 1945
3 Man and Boy 1951
4 The Deep Sleep 1953
5 The Field of Vision 1956
6 Love Among the Cannibals 1957
7 Ceremony in Lone Tree 1960
8 Cause for Wonder 1963
9 One Day 1965
10 The Territory Ahead 1978
11 What a Way to Go 1979
12 Plains Song 1980
Short Stories/Novellas
# Title Year
1 Fire Sermon 1971
2 A Life 1973
3 The Fork River Space Project 1977
4 War Games 1978
Non-Fiction Books
# Title Year
1 God's Country and My People 1968
2 A Bill of Rites, A Bill of Wrongs, A Bill of Goods 1968
3 Green Grass, Blue Sky, White House 1970
4 Love Affair - A Venetian Journal 1972
5 About Fiction 1974
6 Structures and Artifacts 1975
7 Earthly Delights, Unearthly Adornments 1978
8 Will's Boy: A Memoir 1981
9 A Cloak of Light: Writing My Life 1985
10 Time Pieces 1989
11 Photographs & Words 1991
12 Writing My Life 1993
Collections
# Title Year
1 The Works of Love 1952
2 A Reader 1970
3 Here Is Einbaum 1973
4 Real Losses, Imaginary Gains 1976
5 Collected Stories, 1948-1986 1986
6 Origin of a Species (With: John Szarkowski) 1992
7 Three Easy Pieces 1993
8 Two for the Road: Man and Boy & in Orbit 1994
9 The Loneliness of the Long Distance Writer 1995
10 Wright Morris Territory 2011