Elizabeth Strout
Keynote address: Elizabeth Strout grew up isolated, by her parents’ choice, with no television, no newspapers, no parties, no dates or socializing with friends. Instead, she filled her days with writing. College gave her a glimpse of the real world, and following graduation with a degree in English, she took a series of jobs - secretary, barmaid, mattress salesperson - before obtaining a law degree. She later moved to New York City, where she began teaching English at a community college while continuing to write. Her most recent work, Olive Kitteridge, a novel in stories, won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize, was nominated for the National Book Critics Circle Award and was a New York Times best seller. She is also the author of two previous best-selling novels, Abide with Me and Amy and Isabelle.