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William Kittredge

ウィリアム・キットリッジ

Uiriamu Kittorijji

Aliases: Bill Kittredge

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1932-08-14 （Portland, Oregon, U.S.）
Died
2020-12-04 （Missoula, Montana, U.S.） age 88
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Grew up in Warner Valley, Lake County, Oregon → Lived primarily in Missoula, Montana

Career

Occupations
Writer, Essayist, Editor, Professor
Active Years
1976-2017
Affiliations
University of Montana (faculty)

Education

Oregon State University
College of Agriculture / Department of Agriculture
Degree: B.A.（農学）
Country: United States
Undergraduate degree in agriculture
University of Iowa (Iowa Writers' Workshop)
Graduate (Creative Writing) / Creative Writing
Degree: M.F.A.
Country: United States
Enrolled in the Iowa Writers' Workshop after retiring from ranching at age 35

Awards

Stegner Fellowship
Organization: Stanford University
Result: 受賞
National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship
Organization: National Endowment for the Arts
Result: 受賞
Montana Book Festival Lifetime Achievement Award
2017
Organization: Montana Book Festival
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Van Gogh Field and Other Stories

1976 Short story collection / Fiction

A collection of early short stories set in the American West, exploring land and human relationships.

landfamilynature

We Are Not in This Together

1984 Essay / Non-fiction

A collection of essays on individuality, community, and contemporary Western culture.

communitycultureresponsibility

Owning It All

1987 Essay / Non-fiction

An influential essay collection about the modern American West, ownership, and identity.

ownershipthe Westidentity

Hole in the Sky: A Memoir

1992 Memoir / Non-fiction

A memoir recounting ranch life, family history, and personal memories.

memoryranch lifefamily

The Nature of Generosity

2001 Essay / Thought

Discusses 'extreme long loop altruism' and reflects on sustainability, civilization, and their relation to culture and human nature.

altruismsustainabilitycivilization

The Last Best Place: A Montana Anthology (editor, with Annick Smith)

1990 Anthology / Edited

An anthology about Montana, edited with Annick Smith.

regionalismnatureculture

Bibliography

  • The Van Gogh Field and Other Stories (1976)
  • We Are Not in This Together (1984)
  • Owning It All (1987)
  • Phantom Silver (1987)
  • The Last Best Place: A Montana Anthology (1990, editor with Annick Smith)
  • Hole in the Sky: A Memoir (1992)
  • Who Owns the West? (1995)
  • Big Sky Country: The Best of Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Idaho (1996, with Michael Melford)
  • The Portable Western Reader (1997, anthology editor)
  • Taking Care: Thoughts on Storytelling and Belief (1999)
  • The Nature of Generosity (2001)
  • Southwestern Homelands (2002)
  • The Willow Field (2006)
  • The Next Rodeo: New and Selected Essays (2006)

Adaptations

  • A River Runs Through It (film, co-producer involvement)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Western literary proseEssayistic nonfictionConcise, lyrical narration
Recurring Motifs
land and naturecommunity and familysustainability and ethics

Legacy

William Kittredge was known for his deep insights into the culture and land of the American West and taught creative writing at the University of Montana for decades. Through essays and memoirs he made significant literary contributions linking regionalism to universal themes.

Archives

  • University of Montana archives (possible repository of related materials)

In Popular Culture

  • Involved as a co-producer on the film 'A River Runs Through It'

Trivia

  • Retired from ranching at age 35 and enrolled in the Iowa Writers' Workshop.
  • Taught creative writing at the University of Montana for 30 years.
  • The essay collection 'Owning It All' is considered an important work in Western literature.