Gary Snyder is a well-known American poet, essayist, and environmental activist. Snyder is the recipient of many literary honors, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1974 for Turtle Island and the American Book Award in 1983 for Axe Handles . Other notable awards include the Bollingen Prize for Poetry, the John Hay Award for Nature Writing, and the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize. A Buddhist since 1955, Snyder's spiritual beliefs are a strong influence on his work and activism.
