Wallace Stegner was an American author and environmentalist, born on February 18, 1909, in Lake Mills, Iowa. He is best known for his novels, essays, and short stories that often explore themes of the American West and the relationship between people and nature. His most famous work, Angle of Repose, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1972. In addition to his literary contributions, Stegner was a prominent advocate for conservation. He played a significant role in the establishment of the Wilderness Act of 1964 and was a founding member of the Sierra Club. His efforts helped raise awareness about the importance of preserving natural landscapes in the United States.