Barry Lopez facts for kids

Barry Holstun Lopez (born January 6, 1945 – died December 25, 2020) was an American writer. He was known for his books and essays about nature and the environment. Barry Lopez cared deeply about people and the planet.

During his more than 50-year career, he traveled to over 80 countries. He wrote a lot about different places, like the cold Arctic wilderness. His writing explored how people and nature connect. He won the National Book Award for Nonfiction for his book Arctic Dreams (1986). His book Of Wolves and Men (1978) was also a finalist for the same award. He wrote for many popular magazines, including Harper's Magazine and National Geographic.

Early Life and Education

Barry Lopez was born on January 6, 1945, in Port Chester, New York. His birth name was Barry Holstun Brennan. When he was 11, his family moved to Manhattan. He went to the Loyola School and finished in 1962.

As a young man, Barry thought about becoming a Catholic priest. He later attended the University of Notre Dame. He earned both his first degree and a master's degree there. He also studied at New York University and the University of Oregon. Even though he didn't become a priest, daily prayer was still important to him.

Career and Writings

Barry Lopez started writing essays and stories in 1966. He traveled to more than 80 countries during his career. He wrote about many far-off places, including the Arctic wilderness. His works often looked at how human cultures relate to wild nature. He also showed how human actions can harm the environment.

He was a contributing editor for Harper's Magazine. He also wrote for National Geographic, The Paris Review, and Outside. Before 1981, he was also a landscape photographer. In 2002, he became a member of The Explorers Club.

Famous Books

One of his most famous books is Arctic Dreams (1986). This book describes five years he spent in the Canadian Arctic. There, he worked as a biologist. A reviewer from The Guardian newspaper called him "the most important living writer about wilderness." Another reviewer said Arctic Dreams was like Moby-Dick but about the Arctic.

Some of Barry Lopez's books used Native American legends. These included characters like Coyote. One such book was Giving Birth to Thunder, Sleeping with His Daughter (1978). His book Crow and Weasel (1990) talked about how important metaphor is. He said metaphor was one of humanity's main "passions."

His last book published while he was alive was Horizon (2019). This book was about his travels throughout his life. The Guardian described it as a "contemporary epic."

Barry Lopez's writings and other works are kept at Texas Tech University. He also taught at several universities, including Columbia University and University of Iowa.

Awards and Honors

Personal Life and Death

Barry Lopez married Sandra Landers in 1967. They divorced in 1998. He then married Debra Gwartney in 2007. They lived near Finn Rock, Oregon, by the McKenzie River. In 2020, a large wildfire, the Holiday Farm Fire, burned their home. They then moved temporarily to Eugene, Oregon.

Barry Lopez passed away on December 25, 2020. He died in Eugene, Oregon, due to complications from prostate cancer.

See also

In Spanish: Barry Lopez para niños