John Updike author page

John Updike biography

John Updike was an American author known for his novels, short stories, and poetry. He published more than twenty novels and more than a dozen short story collections. Updike is best known for his “Rabbit” series, which includes Rabbit, Run (1960), Rabbit Redux (1971), Rabbit Is Rich (1981), Rabbit at Rest (1990), and Rabbit Remembered (2001). The series follows the life of Harry “Rabbit” Angstrom and is widely recognised for its detailed depiction of American life.

Updike’s work appeared regularly in The New Yorker from the 1950s onwards. He also published poetry, criticism, and essays. His other notable novels include The Centaur (1963), Coup (1978), The Witches of Eastwick (1984), and In the Beauty of the Lilies (1996).

Updike received numerous literary awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction twice, for Rabbit Is Rich in 1982 and Rabbit at Rest in 1991. He also won the National Book Award for The Centaur in 1964 and the National Book Critics Circle Award for Rabbit at Rest in 1990. In 2008, he was awarded the Rea Award for the Short Story.

Updike’s final novel, The Widows of Eastwick, was published in 2008.