TheFamousPeople

Discover the American female essayists who have made significant contribution to their field. This list is loosely sorted by popularity and includes many great American female essayists, such as Lisa Brennan-Jobs, Sandra Cisneros, Jhumpa Lahiri, Barbara Kingsolver and Adrienne Rich.

American Female Essayists

Lisa Brennan-JobsLisa Brennan-Jobs
17 May 1978, American
Daughter of Steve Jobs
Jhumpa LahiriJhumpa Lahiri
11 July 1967, British, American
Writer

Adrienne RichAdrienne Rich
16 May 1929, American
American poet

Barbara KingsolverBarbara Kingsolver
08 April 1955, American
Novelist, Poet, Essayist

Sandra CisnerosSandra Cisneros
20 December 1954, American
Writer

Katherine Anne PorterKatherine Anne Porter
15 May 1890, American
Journalist, Essayist, Writer, Novelist
Jamaica KincaidJamaica Kincaid
25 May 1949, American
Novelist

Anais NinAnais Nin
21 February 1903, American
Essayist

Tara WestoverTara Westover
27 September 1986, American
Memoirist
Joan DidionJoan Didion
05 December 1934, American
Screenwriter, Novelist, Journalist, Writer,

Flannery O'ConnorFlannery O'Connor
25 March 1925, American
Novelist
Sylvia BrowneSylvia Browne
19 October 1936, American
Essayist, Psychic

Cheryl StrayedCheryl Strayed
17 September 1968, American
Writer

Sarah VowellSarah Vowell
27 December 1969, American
Historian

Rebecca SolnitRebecca Solnit
24 June 1961, American
Writer

Madeleine L'EngleMadeleine L'Engle
29 November 1918, American
Author
Linda Moulton HoweLinda Moulton Howe
20 January 1942, American
Journalist, Essayist

Marilynne RobinsonMarilynne Robinson
26 November 1943, American
Novelist

Mary KarrMary Karr
16 January 1955, American
Poet

Marguerite YourcenarMarguerite Yourcenar
08 June 1903, Belgian, American
Novelist, Essayist
Meta Ann DoakAnnie Dillard
30 April 1945, American
Author

Joy HarjoJoy Harjo
09 May 1951, American
Poet
Kathy AckerKathy Acker
18 April 1947, American
Author

Bebe Moore CampbellBebe Moore Campbell
18 February 1950, American
Author

June Millicent JordanJune Jordan
09 July 1936, American
Poet
Eve Kosofsky SedgwickEve Kosofsky Sedgwick
02 May 1950, American
Academic Scholar

Lydia DavisLydia Davis
15 July 1947, American
Writer
Cynthia OzickCynthia Ozick
17 April 1928, American
Short Story Writer

Emily GouldEmily Gould
13 October 1981, American
Writer, Essayist, Children's writer

Leslie Marmon SilkoLeslie Marmon Silko
05 March 1948, American
American author
Diane JohnsonDiane Johnson
28 April 1934, American
Novelist

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Laura RidingLaura Riding
16 January 1901, American
Poet
Ellen WillisEllen Willis
14 December 1941, American
Essayist

Bharati MukherjeeBharati Mukherjee
27 July 1940, Indian, American
Writer

Shirley HazzardShirley Hazzard
30 January 1931, American
Novelist

Tess GallagherTess Gallagher
21 July 1943, American
Poet
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps WardElizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
31 August 1844, American
Author
Charlotte Forten GrimkéCharlotte Forten Grimké
17 August 1837, American
Poet

Cornelia Otis SkinnerCornelia Otis Skinner
30 May 1899, American
Author

Barbara GoldsmithBarbara Goldsmith
18 May 1931, American
Author

Bobbie Ann MasonBobbie Ann Mason
01 May 1940, American
Novelist
Ana CastilloAna Castillo
15 June 1953, American
Novelist

Fanny FernFanny Fern
09 July 1811, American
Journalist, Writer, Novelist, Children's writer,

Agnes RepplierAgnes Repplier
01 April 1855, American
Essayist, Biographer

Anne RoipheAnne Roiphe
25 December 1935, American
Writer

Frederica Sagor MaasFrederica Sagor Maas
06 July 1900, American
Screenwriter, Playwright, Journalist,
Diane WakoskiDiane Wakoski
03 August 1937, American
Poet

Josephine JacobsenJosephine Jacobsen
19 August 1908, American
Poet
Caroline Howard GilmanCaroline Howard Gilman
1794 AD, American
Writer

Louise Imogen GuineyLouise Imogen Guiney
07 January 1861, American
Poet

Mary Abigail DodgeMary Abigail Dodge
31 March 1833, American
Writer
Mary Ellen SoltMary Ellen Solt
08 July 1920, American
Poet

Hildegarde FlannerHildegarde Flanner
03 June 1899, American
Poet
Katharine Elizabeth Fullerton GerouldKatharine Elizabeth Fullerton Gerould
06 February 1879, American
Writer

Mary GordonMary Gordon
08 December 1949, American
Writer

Zhang AilingZhang Ailing
30 September 1920, Chinese, American
Writer

Judith Sargent Stevens MurrayJudith Sargent Stevens Murray
01 May 1751, American
Advocate

Sarah Helen Power WhitmanSarah Helen Power Whitman
19 January 1803, American
Poet