Lydia Davis

Lydia Davis served as the Kapnick Distinguished Writer in Residence in Fall 2016. Widely regarded as one of the most original and influential writers of contemporary American literature, Davis is celebrated for her innovative short fiction, which distills complex emotions, philosophical inquiry, and keen observation into remarkably concise forms. Her work has expanded the possibilities of the short story, earning admiration for its precision, wit, and intellectual depth.

Davis is the author of several collections of fiction, including Break It Down, Almost No Memory, Varieties of Disturbance, Can't and Won't, and Our Strangers. Her stories, which often blur the boundaries between fiction, essay, diary, and prose poem, have been praised for their ability to find drama and revelation in the smallest details of everyday life.

In addition to her achievements as a writer, Davis is one of the foremost literary translators of her generation. Her translations of French authors, most notably Marcel Proust's Swann's Way and works by Gustave Flaubert and Maurice Blanchot, have earned widespread acclaim. Her honors include the Man Booker International Prize, a MacArthur Fellowship, the PEN/Malamud Award, and election to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

A writer of extraordinary range and influence, Davis has shaped contemporary literature through both her own work and her contributions as a translator, editor, and teacher. As the Kapnick Distinguished Writer in Residence, she brought to the University of Virginia a singular literary vision marked by curiosity, formal innovation, and meticulous attention to language.