Barry Holstun Lopez was an American essayist, nature writer, and fiction writer whose work explored the relationship between human cultures and nature. Over a career spanning more than 50 years, he visited more than 80 countries and wrote extensively about a variety of landscapes, with particular focus on the Arctic wilderness. Lopez's major works include Arctic Dreams, which won the National Book Award for Nonfiction in 1986, and Of Wolves and Men, published in 1978, which was a finalist for the National Book Award. His writing was characterized by humanitarian and environmental concerns that shaped his approach to both essay and fiction. His work appeared in prominent publications including Harper's Magazine, National Geographic, and The Paris Review. Lopez was born on January 6, 1945, in Port Chester, Rye, Westchester County, New York, and died on December 25, 2020, in Eugene, Oregon.