Oliver La Farge

Biography

Oliver Hazard Perry La Farge (1901–1963) was an American novelist, anthropologist, and advocate for Native American rights who won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1930 for his debut novel, Laughing Boy. Born in New York City into a prominent Rhode Island family, La Farge studied at Harvard, where he participated in archaeological expeditions to Arizona and Mexico. His field work among the Navajo people inspired Laughing Boy, a love story set in the Navajo nation that was unprecedented in its sympathetic and informed portrayal of Native American life. La Farge continued to write fiction, including Sparks Fly Upward (1931) and The Enemy Gods (1937), while becoming increasingly devoted to Native American advocacy. He served as president of the Association on American Indian Affairs (1933–1963), working tirelessly for indigenous rights, self-governance, and cultural preservation. His nonfiction includes As Long as the Grass Shall Grow (1940), a study of Native American conditions. La Farge’s dual career as a literary artist and political advocate for indigenous peoples made him a unique figure in American cultural life.