Award-winning writer and conservationist, known for lyrical fiction and nonfiction works that explore the American wilderness and humanity's relationship with nature.
Rick Bass is a celebrated American writer and environmental activist, known for his poignant and evocative stories that weave together the human experience with the natural world. Through his writing, he has become a powerful voice for the preservation of wilderness and the protection of the environment.
Born on March 7, 1958, in Fort Worth, Texas, Bass grew up in Houston with a deep fascination for the natural world. He pursued his passion for geology and wildlife, earning a Bachelor of Science in Geology with a focus on Wildlife from Utah State University. This educational foundation laid the groundwork for his future work as a writer and environmentalist.
After completing his internship as a Wildlife Biologist at the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company in Arkansas, Bass worked as an oil and gas geologist and consultant before turning to writing full-time. His experiences in the industry informed his writing, which often explores the complex relationship between humans and the environment.
Bass has taught at various universities across the United States, including the University of Texas at Austin, Beloit College, University of Montana, Pacific University, and Iowa State University. He has also led workshops and lectures on writing and wildlife, sharing his expertise with students and aspiring writers.
Bass's writing has been widely recognized and celebrated. His collection of short stories, For a Little While, won The Story Prize in 2016. He was awarded the 1995 James Jones Literary Society First Novel Fellowship for his novel-in-progress, Where the Sea Used to Be. Additionally, he was a finalist for The Story Prize in 2006 for his short story collection, The Lives of Rocks.
In 1987, Bass moved to Yaak Valley, Montana, where he became intimately involved in the efforts to protect his adopted home from logging and road development. He serves on the board of the Yaak Valley Forest Council, working tirelessly to preserve the region's natural beauty and biodiversity.
Bass's papers are held in two esteemed collections: the Sowell Family Collection in Literature, Community, and the Natural World at Texas Tech University, and the Texas State University's Wittliff Collections. These archives serve as a testament to his enduring impact on American literature and environmentalism.
In 1987, Bass married artist Elizabeth Hughes Bass, with whom he had two children before their divorce in 2015. During his time in Jackson, Mississippi, he began writing short stories on his lunch breaks, sparking a creative journey that would shape his life's work.
Bass's writing is deeply rooted in his love for the natural world and his experiences as an environmental activist. Through his stories, he continues to inspire readers to reexamine their relationship with the environment and to take action in its defense.
Rick Bass's life and work serve as a powerful testament to the transformative power of storytelling and the importance of environmental activism. As a writer, teacher, and advocate, he continues to inspire generations to cherish and protect the natural world.
99 Years Old
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91 Years Old
A renowned author and environmentalist, celebrated for his poignant and thought-provoking writings on rural life, community, and the human relationship with nature.
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Pioneering ecologist and author who advocated for land ethics and conservation, inspiring a new generation of environmentalists.
Born in 1838
A pioneering conservationist and writer who advocated for the preservation of America's wilderness and national parks, inspiring generations to appreciate and protect the natural world.
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A 19th-century thinker who advocated for simple living, civil disobedience, and individualism, inspiring generations to reevaluate their relationship with nature and society.
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