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

Sandra CisnerosSandra Cisneros
20 December 1954, American
Writer

Adrienne RichAdrienne Rich
16 May 1929, American
American poet

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

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

Anais NinAnais Nin
21 February 1903, American
Essayist

Tara WestoverTara Westover
27 September 1986, American
Memoirist

Elizabeth GilbertElizabeth Gilbert
18 July 1969, American
Writer
Joan DidionJoan Didion
05 December 1934, American
Screenwriter, Novelist, Journalist, Writer,

Cheryl StrayedCheryl Strayed
17 September 1968, American
Writer
Sylvia BrowneSylvia Browne
19 October 1936, American
Essayist, Psychic

Sarah VowellSarah Vowell
27 December 1969, American
Historian

Joy HarjoJoy Harjo
09 May 1951, American
Poet
Rebecca SolnitRebecca Solnit
24 June 1961, American
Writer

Mary KarrMary Karr
16 January 1955, American
Poet
Linda Moulton HoweLinda Moulton Howe
20 January 1942, American
Journalist, Essayist

Marilynne RobinsonMarilynne Robinson
26 November 1943, American
Novelist

Kathy AckerKathy Acker
18 April 1947, American
Author
Eve Kosofsky SedgwickEve Kosofsky Sedgwick
02 May 1950, American
Academic Scholar

Lydia DavisLydia Davis
15 July 1947, American
Writer
Marguerite YourcenarMarguerite Yourcenar
08 June 1903, Belgian, American
Novelist, Essayist

Leslie Marmon SilkoLeslie Marmon Silko
05 March 1948, American
American author

Bharati MukherjeeBharati Mukherjee
27 July 1940, Indian, American
Writer

Cynthia OzickCynthia Ozick
17 April 1928, American
Short Story Writer
Emily GouldEmily Gould
13 October 1981, American
Writer, Essayist, Children's writer
Fanny FernFanny Fern
09 July 1811, American
Journalist, Writer, Novelist, Children's writer,

Frederica Sagor MaasFrederica Sagor Maas
06 July 1900, American
Screenwriter, Playwright, Journalist,

Agnes RepplierAgnes Repplier
01 April 1855, American
Essayist, Biographer

Zhang AilingZhang Ailing
30 September 1920, Chinese, American
Writer