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John Updike

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description John Updike Overview

John Updike (1932–2009) was an American novelist, short story writer, poet, and critic associated with suburban realism and precise, lyrical prose. He is best known for the Rabbit series—Rabbit, Run (1960), Rabbit Redux (1971), Rabbit Is Rich (1981), and Rabbit at Rest (1990)—which follows Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom across decades of American life and won two Pulitzer Prizes for Fiction. Updike was a prolific contributor to The New Yorker and published dozens of novels, story collections, and volumes of criticism.

help John Updike FAQ

Which books make up John Updike's Rabbit series?

The acclaimed tetralogy follows protagonist Harry 'Rabbit' Angstrom across four decades of American life. It consists of Rabbit, Run (1960), Rabbit Redux (1971), Rabbit Is Rich (1981), and Rabbit at Rest (1990).

Did John Updike win a Pulitzer Prize for Rabbit Is Rich?

Yes, Updike won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1982 for Rabbit Is Rich. He won his second Pulitzer Prize a decade later in 1991 for the final novel in the series, Rabbit at Rest.

Where is John Updike's Rabbit series set?

The novels are primarily set in the fictional town of Brewer, Pennsylvania, which is heavily based on Updike's real hometown of Reading. The setting serves as a microcosm for the decline of the American industrial middle class.

Did John Updike write The Witches of Eastwick?

Yes, John Updike wrote the 1984 novel The Witches of Eastwick, which explores themes of female empowerment and magic. The book was famously adapted into a 1987 feature film starring Jack Nicholson, Cher, and Susan Sarandon.