Pearl S. Buck was an American author born on June 26, 1892, in Hillsboro, West Virginia. She spent much of her early life in China, where her parents were missionaries. This experience greatly influenced her writing, particularly her most famous novel, The Good Earth, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1932. In addition to her literary achievements, Buck was a prominent advocate for social issues, including women's rights and racial equality. She received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1938 for her rich and sympathetic portrayal of life in China and her exploration of cultural themes. Buck passed away on March 6, 1973.