Wendell Berry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wendell Berry
Berry in December 2011
Born	(1934-08-05) August 5, 1934 (age 90) Henry County, Kentucky, U.S.
Occupation	Poet farmer writer activist academic
Education	University of Kentucky (BA, MA)
Genre	Fiction, poetry, essays
Subject	Agriculture, rural life, community
Relatives	John M. Berry (brother)

Wendell Erdman Berry (born August 5, 1934) is an American writer, poet, and farmer. He is also known as an environmental activist and a critic of modern society. Berry is deeply connected to rural Kentucky, where he grew up.

Much of his writing focuses on themes of farming and country life. You can find these ideas in his early essays like The Gift of Good Land (1981) and The Unsettling of America (1977). He also writes about the culture and economy of small farming communities in his novels and stories. These include books set in the fictional town of Port William, such as A Place on Earth (1967) and Jayber Crow (2000).

Wendell Berry has received many honors for his work. He is a member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers. He also received the National Humanities Medal and was the Jefferson Lecturer in 2012. In 2015, he became the first living writer to join the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame.

Life and Education

Wendell Berry was the first of four children. His father, John Marshall Berry, was a lawyer and tobacco farmer in Henry County, Kentucky. Both of his parents' families had been farming in Henry County for at least five generations.

Berry went to high school at Millersburg Military Institute. He then studied English at the University of Kentucky, earning his bachelor's degree in 1956 and his master's degree in 1957. While there, he met another future Kentucky writer, Gurney Norman. In 1957, he married Tanya Amyx.

In 1958, Berry attended Stanford University's creative writing program. He studied with famous writers like Wallace Stegner, Larry McMurtry, and Ken Kesey. His first novel, Nathan Coulter, was published in 1960.

A special scholarship, the Guggenheim Fellowship, allowed Berry and his family to travel to Italy and France in 1961. From 1962 to 1964, he taught English at New York University. In 1964, he started teaching creative writing at the University of Kentucky, where he stayed until 1977. During this time, he met other important figures like author Guy Davenport and monk Thomas Merton.

On July 4, 1965, Berry and his family moved to Lane's Landing. This was a 12-acre farm he bought in Henry County, Kentucky. He started growing corn and small grains there. Over time, the farm grew to about 117 acres. Lane's Landing is on the western bank of the Kentucky River. Berry has lived, farmed, and written there ever since. He has shared his experiences on the land in essays like "The Long-Legged House."

From 1977 to 1980, he worked for Rodale, Inc., writing for magazines like Organic Gardening and Farming. He returned to the University of Kentucky's English Department from 1987 to 1993. Berry has written many books, including over twenty-five poetry collections, twenty-four essay collections, and fifteen novels and short story collections. His writing often emphasizes that our work should be connected to the place where we live.

Activism and Beliefs

Wendell Berry is well-known for his activism. He often speaks out about important issues.

Speaking Out Against War

On February 10, 1968, Berry gave a speech against the Vietnam War at the University of Kentucky. He said, "I have come to the realization that I can no longer imagine a war that I would believe to be either useful or necessary. I would be against any war." This shows his strong belief in Christian pacifism, which means he believes in peace and is against violence.

Debating Industrial Agriculture

In November 1977, Berry debated former Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz. Butz supported large-scale industrial agriculture. Berry, however, defended small family farms and local communities. He argued that farming is more than just growing food; it's connected to all parts of society.

Protesting Nuclear Power

On June 3, 1979, Berry took part in a peaceful protest against building a nuclear power plant in Indiana. He wrote about this event and his reasons for it in his essay "The Reactor and the Garden."

Responding to National Security

In 2003, Berry's essay "A Citizen's Response to the National Security Strategy of the United States" was published in The New York Times. In it, he criticized the George W. Bush administration's international plans after 9/11. He felt these plans would change the country's political character.

Advocating for Sustainable Farming

In 2009, Berry and Wes Jackson, who leads The Land Institute, wrote an article in The New York Times. They called for a "50-Year Farm Bill." They wanted a plan that would deal with problems like soil loss, pollution, and the destruction of rural communities. They believed we need to use nature as a guide for farming.

Opposing the Death Penalty

Also in 2009, Berry spoke out against the death penalty. He said he was "deeply uncomfortable by the taking of a human life after birth." He and other writers asked the governor of Kentucky to stop executions in the state.

Protesting Coal and Animal Identification

Berry has also protested against coal-fired power plants. In 2009, he joined a protest against a new plant in Clark County, Kentucky, which was later canceled. In 2009, he also spoke against the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). He said he would not cooperate with the program if it was forced on small farmers.

Removing Papers from University

In 2009, Berry removed his writings from the University of Kentucky. He did this because he felt the university was too friendly with the coal industry. He explained that he couldn't be friends with the university if it supported something he opposed. His papers were later given to The Kentucky Historical Society.

Suing Over a Mural

In 2020, Wendell Berry and his wife sued the University of Kentucky. They wanted to stop the removal of a mural that some people found "racially offensive." The mural was painted in the 1930s by a relative of his wife.

Speaking Against Land Re-zoning

In 2022, Berry spoke against changing agricultural land in Henry County to build a distillery. Despite his and others' arguments, the change was approved.

Key Ideas in His Work

Berry's non-fiction books are like a long conversation about the kind of life he values. He believes in sustainable agriculture, which means farming in a way that protects the land for the future. He also values healthy rural communities, a strong connection to one's home, and the simple joys of good food and hard work.

He sees threats to this simple, good life. These threats include industrial farming, which uses large machines and chemicals. He also worries about global economics and the destruction of the natural world. Berry believes in using "nature as model" to solve problems. This means looking at how nature works to find solutions that help many problems without creating new ones. He calls this "Solving for pattern."

Berry describes himself as "a person who takes the Gospel seriously." He has criticized Christian groups for not doing enough to protect the environment. He also supports Christian pacifism, which is about peace and forgiveness.

His ideas have inspired films like The Unforeseen (2007) and Look & See: A Portrait of Wendell Berry (2016).

Poetry

Wendell Berry's poems often describe nature and country life. They can be like a eclogue (a poem about shepherds and rural life), a pastoral (a poem about the beauty of country life), or an elegy (a poem for the dead). He also writes story poems and poems about specific events.

His first published poetry book was November Twenty Six Nineteen Hundred Sixty Three (1964). This poem remembered the death of President John F. Kennedy. His first full collection, The Broken Ground (1964), explored themes like life and death, connection to place, and images of the Kentucky River.

Berry's poems are not usually modern or experimental. He focuses on the real world and its beauty. He believes that poetry should remind us of the world's order and beauty.

The Sabbath Poems

Since 1979, Berry has been writing what he calls "Sabbath poems." These poems are collected in books like A Timbered Choir: The Sabbath Poems 1979–1997. He writes them after walking on his land on Sunday mornings. He says these walks help his mind be open to new ideas and inspiration.

In one poem from 1979, he writes:

These poems are about living thoughtfully in one place and appreciating the natural world. They remind us of the importance of rest and reflection, like a Sabbath day.

Fiction

Berry's fiction includes eight novels and many short stories. All of these stories are connected and tell the history of the fictional small Kentucky town of Port William. Because he explores this imagined place over a long time, he has been compared to famous author William Faulkner.

The stories in Port William show how farming practices in the United States have changed. They also show how traditional country life has disappeared. However, Berry's stories are not just sad tales of decline. They show how people lived with respect for the land in the past. They also explore the good qualities that come from such a life.

His novels often show how people deal with social and seasonal changes. For example, in A Place on Earth (1967), a farmer named Mat Feltner deals with the loss of his son in World War II. The book shows how the whole community supports him.

Berry's fiction also explores the idea of marriage as something that connects people, families, and communities. It even connects them to nature itself. Even characters who are not traditionally married are still strongly connected to the "membership" of Port William.

Berry has said that he created Port William to honor the real place where he lives. He wants to show how people act when they love each other. The novels and stories can be read in any order.

In 2018, the Library of America published a collection of Berry's fiction. This is a special honor, as only a few living writers are included in their catalog.

Key Novels and Their Themes

Nathan Coulter (1960)

This was Berry's first novel. It tells the story of young Nathan growing up. He deals with the death of his mother, his father's sadness, and adventures with his brother and uncle. It's a poetic story about a boy's journey to adulthood.

A Place on Earth (1967/1983)

This novel is set in 1945. It focuses on farmer Mat Feltner, whose son Virgil is missing in action during World War II. The book also tells stories of other people in Port William. Berry later revised this novel, making it shorter and more focused.

The Memory of Old Jack (1974)

This book starts in 1952 with Jack Beechum as a very old man. It then goes back in time to show his life as a dedicated farmer and husband. The story covers a long period, from the Civil War to after World War II. It shows how a man's memories shape his life.

Remembering (1988)

In this novel, an adult Andy Catlett is in San Francisco. He feels disconnected from his home in Port William. He tries to understand himself, his marriage, and the values of modern American society. The book compares modern farming with the older, more caring way of life.

A World Lost (1996)

This story is about an adult Andy Catlett looking back at the murder of his uncle Andrew in 1944. Berry explores how violence affects families and communities. The book shows the pain of family pride and strict social rules, but also celebrates family love.

Jayber Crow (2000)

This novel is told by Jayber Crow, the barber of Port William. He shares his life story, from being an orphan to becoming deeply committed to his town and its people. The book shows how much the world changed during the 20th century.

Hannah Coulter (2004)

This novel tells the story of Hannah's life in Port William. It covers events like the Great Depression and World War II. It also shows how farming changed and how young people moved to cities. Hannah experiences much loss, but she is never defeated. Her strength comes from the "membership" of Port William, meaning how people care for each other.

Andy Catlett: Early Travels (2006)

This book follows nine-year-old Andy Catlett on his first solo trip to visit his grandparents in Port William. The adult Andy looks back on this experience. He sees it as a tribute to a world that has now disappeared.

Awards and Recognition

Wendell Berry has received many awards for his writing and activism. Here are some of them:

Works by Wendell Berry

Here are some of the books Wendell Berry has written:

Fiction Books

Nonfiction Books

Poetry Books

Images for kids

• 

  Berry in December 2011

See also

In Spanish: Wendell Berry para niños

• Agrarianism
• Fellowship of Southern Writers
• Front Porch Republic
• The Land Institute
• John Seymour (author)
• Local food
• Localism (politics)
• Southern Agrarians
• Sustainability
• Subsidiarity
• Wallace Stegner
• Wes Jackson