(born 1938) Novelist. Oates combines strong naturalistic prose with elements of American Gothic.

Her works have also managed to combine literary quality with appeal to a wide audience.

Author of many novels, among her best-known works are the trilogy consisting of Garden of Earthly Delights (1967), Expensive People (1968) and them (1969), which won the National Book Award. Others include Because it is Bitter and Because it is my Heart (1990) and Will you always love me? (1996).