A.B. Guthrie Jr. was an American author born on November 13, 1901, in Bedford, Indiana. He is best known for his novels that capture the spirit of the American West, particularly his work The Way West, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1950. Guthrie's writing often reflects themes of exploration and the challenges of frontier life. In addition to his novels, Guthrie was a screenwriter and contributed to several films, including adaptations of his own works. He spent much of his life in Montana, where the landscape and culture significantly influenced his writing. Guthrie passed away on August 24, 1991.