Barbara Kingsolver '77 & Husband Among Grist's 'Green Couples'

February 10, 2009

February 10, 2009, Greencastle, Ind. — Barbara Kingsolver, bestselling author and 1977 graduate of DePauw University, and her husband, Steven Hopp, are among Grist's "14 Green Couples." The online magazine notes, "It seems everyone's going green these days -- but some couples are doubly committed to the cause. In honor of Valentine's Day, we take a look at 14 prominent pairs who share a certain planetary passion."

Other selections include Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Erykah Badu and Jay Electronica, and Michael Pollan and Judith Belzer.

Of Kingsolver and Hopp, Grist writes, "The couple bared all in 2007's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, in which they chronicled a year of growing and locally sourcing food for themselves and their two daughters. But the book was no dilettantish dip into the eco-well. Kingsolver's best-selling novels feature natural themes, and Hopp is an environmental studies professor with a vireo fixation. The 'Hoppsolvers,' as they've jokingly referred to themselves, moved from Arizona to their farm in Virginia to escape the eco-unreality of a desert existence. They continue to blog about life on the farm, and retain a down-to-earth attitude. As Kingsolver puts it, 'I'm sort of allergic to sanctimony.'"

Access the feature by clicking here.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life was listed among the ten best nonfiction books of 2007 by TIME magazine. It also received an award from the James Beard Foundation as well as a gold Nautilus Book Award and the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance's Book Award for Non-Fiction.

Barbara Kingsolver's other works include The Poisonwood Bible, The Bean Trees, Animal Dreams and Small Wonder. She received the National Humanities Medal in 2000.

In 1994, Kingsolver delivered the commencement address at DePauw, and was also awarded an honorary degree during the ceremony. A summary of her speech can be found in this previous story.

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