Robert Finch (June 16, 1943 – September 30, 2024) was an American author, essayist, and radio commentator.
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Biography
He was born in New Jersey and grew up in West Virginia. He moved to Cape Cod in 1971 and wrote several books about the nature, natural and human histories of Cape Cod. His first book, Common Ground: A Naturalist's Cape Cod (1981), was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction in 1982.
Robert Finch served as publications director for the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History and as a staff member of the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference at Middlebury College. His radio show with the National Public Radio member station WGBH, titled "A Cape Cod Notebook", won the 2006 "New England Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Radio Writing." For ten years, Finch also taught creative nonfiction in the Spalding University Master of Fine Arts program.
Awards
Nomination for Pulitzer Prize (Common Ground, 1981)
Fellowship, Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, 1982
New England Literary Lights Award, Associates of the Boston Public Library, 1999
New England Booksellers Association Non-Fiction Award for 2001
Notable Essays, The Best American Essays, 2000, ed. Alan Lightman
Notable Essays, The Best American Essays 2006, ed. Lauren Slater
2005 Edward R. Murrow Award for Radio Writing
2013 Edward R. Murrow Award for Radio Writing
Praise for Robert Finch
Annie Dillard said: "Robert Finch is one of our finest observers...I admire his essays very much for their strength, subtlety, and above all their geniality."