Marilynne Summers Robinson, born November 26, 1943, is an esteemed American novelist and essayist known for her profound thematic exploration of faith, rural life, and the American spirit. Her literary career is adorned with numerous accolades, including the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2005, National Humanities Medal in 2012, and the 2016 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction. In 2016, she was also celebrated in Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people.

Robinson's teaching career at the Iowa Writers' Workshop began in 1991 and concluded with her retirement in spring 2016. Her novels, notably Housekeeping (1980) and Gilead (2004), are highly regarded for their intricate depiction of both the complexities of faith and the nuances of life in rural America. In addition to her fiction, Robinson's essays cover a wide range of topics, from the interplay between religion and science to the intricacies of US history, nuclear pollution, John Calvin, and contemporary American politics.

Among her notable works are Gilead, which won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award; Home (2008), awarded the Orange Prize and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; Lila (2014), also a winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award; and Jack (2020), a New York Times bestseller. Her debut novel, Housekeeping, received the PEN/Hemingway Award. Robinson's nonfiction contributions are as impactful, including titles such as The Givenness of Things (2015), When I Was a Child I Read Books (2012), and Absence of Mind (2010).

Robinson's writing is celebrated for its grace and intelligence, earning her a 2012 National Humanities Medal, awarded by President Barack Obama. She currently resides in California.