Wendell Berry dies at 92: Cause of death, wife, children, famous quotes, poems and more

Wendell Berry, the acclaimed American writer, farmer and environmentalist has died at 92. Berry died on Monday, August 31, 2026, at his home in Port Royal, Kentucky, his daughter Mary Berry confirmed to The New York Times. A cause of death was not immediately disclosed.The Kentucky farmer-poet Wendell Berry, who championed small farms and criticised industrial agriculture, died at his Port Royal home. (X | @Itsjoeco)The author spent more than six decades writing poetry, fiction and essays that explored humanity’s relationship with nature. He became one of America’s strongest voices against industrial farming and environmental destruction.Berry wrote more than 50 books during his career. His writing work also includes poetry collections, novels and cultural criticism. His 1977 book “The Unsettling of America: Culture & Agriculture” became a landmark work in the sustainable farming movement.Also read: Quote of the Day by King Harald: ‘Individuals shall not destroy the vast majority who want fellowship’A farmer who turned his land into his life’s workWendell Erdman Berry was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on August 5, 1934, and was raised in a farming community. His family was deeply rooted in Henry County, Kentucky, where the land was farmed for many generations.Berry studied English at the University of Kentucky, where he also earned his master's degree. He later studied creative writing at Stanford University under novelist and environmentalist Wallace Stegner. Berry also traveled to Italy during his search for an ideal career and then landed in New York to learn and teach at New York University. After teaching at New York University for two years, Berry ultimately decided to return to Kentucky. In 1964, he and his wife, Tanya Amyx Berry, moved back to Henry County and began farming near the Kentucky River, where his ancestors had lived since 1803. According to his writings, Berry had often visited the house as a boy and had also spent a summer there with his wife, Tanya.In an essay titled “The Long-Legged House,” Berry addressed his decision to move back home and wrote, “In the life we lived that summer, we represented to ourselves what we wanted — and it was not the headlong pilgrimage after money and comfort and prestige.”