Picture a storyteller who spun a gritty, heart-stirring tale of a fading Rust Belt town—meet Tess Gunty! Born in South Bend, Indiana, in 1993, this American novelist captured the literary world’s attention with her debut novel, The Rabbit Hutch, a National Book Award winner that’s as vibrant as it is profound. With a knack for blending quirky characters and sharp social commentary, Gunty’s work dives deep into the pulse of modern America.
From her Midwest roots to the bustling streets of New York, Gunty’s journey is one of curiosity and creativity. Her stories, laced with wit and wisdom, reflect the complexities of postindustrial life, making her a fresh voice in contemporary fiction. Let’s explore how this rising star carved her path and why her words resonate so deeply.
The Making of Tess Gunty
Tess Gunty grew up in South Bend, a city scarred by the 1963 closure of the Studebaker automobile plant, an event that shaped her perspective on economic decline. The child of academics, she developed an early love for storytelling, typing tales on a salvaged computer as a kid. At the University of Notre Dame, she earned a B.A. in English with a creative writing focus, honing her craft under inspiring professors. Her time studying French in Angers, France, and winning the Ernest Sandeen Award for her poetry collection Radish Beds sparked her artistic fire.
After graduating in 2015, Gunty pursued an MFA in creative writing at NYU, where she was a Lillian Vernon Fellow. There, she began crafting The Rabbit Hutch, drawing on her Rust Belt upbringing to challenge stereotypes about the Midwest. Her volunteer work mentoring kids in Brooklyn and research with novelist Jonathan Safran Foer enriched her storytelling, grounding her narratives in empathy and insight.
Tess Gunty’s Unforgettable Stories
Gunty’s debut, The Rabbit Hutch, published in 2022 by Knopf, is a polyphonic masterpiece set in the fictional Vacca Vale, Indiana. The novel follows the residents of a rundown apartment complex, including Blandine, a foster care alum obsessed with Catholic mystics, and Joan, an obituary comment moderator. Critics praised its surreal, haunting prose and vibrant characters, earning it the 2022 National Book Award for Fiction, the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize, and the Indiana Authors Award in 2024. The New York Times called it “mesmerizing,” noting its “seashell whorls of meaning.”
Her upcoming novel, Honeydew, set for release in Fall 2025, promises to explore quantum superposition through a triptych structure. Gunty’s style—electric, multi-voiced, and deeply human—weaves themes of loneliness, community, and transcendence. Influenced by writers like Zadie Smith and George Eliot, she respects readers’ intelligence, inviting them to wander through her complex narrative ecosystems.
Gunty’s shorter works have appeared in prestigious outlets like The Iowa Review, Granta, and Joyland, showcasing her range. Her fascination with poetry, from Frank O’Hara to Takako Arai, infuses her prose with rhythmic precision, while her research into AI and literature hints at bold future projects.
Why Tess Gunty Matters
Tess Gunty’s impact lies in her ability to illuminate the overlooked. By setting her stories in the Rust Belt, she challenges coastal biases, portraying the Midwest as a diverse, dynamic region. Her characters—flawed, searching, and achingly real—reflect the struggles of modern life, from economic precarity to spiritual yearning. Winning the National Book Award at 29, she’s a trailblazer for young writers, proving literary fiction can tackle big issues with heart and humor.
Her advocacy for the novel as a collaborative act between writer and reader underscores her belief in literature’s power to connect. As The Rabbit Hutch is adapted for film and Honeydew looms, Gunty’s influence is only growing, cementing her as a vital voice in American letters.
About Tess Gunty
- Born: 1993 in South Bend, Indiana
- Key Work: The Rabbit Hutch (2022)
- Awards: National Book Award for Fiction (2022), Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize
- Upcoming: Honeydew (Fall 2025)
Snag The Rabbit Hutch and dive into Tess Gunty’s electric world of fiction! Her stories are a wild, soulful ride you won’t forget.