Kathryn Stockett

Kathryn Stockett (born 1969) is an American novelist best known for her debut novel, The Help (2009). Raised in Jackson, Mississippi, she grew up in the American South, whose culture and complicated history deeply informed her writing. After earning a degree in English and creative writing from the University of Alabama, she moved to New York City, where she spent nine years working in magazine publishing.

The Help, which took Stockett five years to write and was reportedly rejected by dozens of literary agents before publication, tells the story of African American maids working in white households in Jackson during the early 1960s. The novel spent more than two years on the New York Times bestseller list, sold millions of copies worldwide, and was translated into over forty languages. In 2011, it was adapted into an acclaimed film starring Emma Stone, Viola Davis, and Octavia Spencer, who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role.

Through themes of race, class, courage, and friendship, Stockett gave voice to characters often overlooked in Southern history. Her work is celebrated for its humor, warmth, and honest examination of social injustice, making her one of the most notable contemporary Southern writers.