Sherman Alexie is an acclaimed American author, poet, and filmmaker known for exploring themes related to his Native American heritage. Born in 1966 on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Washington State, Alexie overcame numerous hardships, including living with hydrocephalus. This experience influenced his work, which often focuses on Native American characters grappling with poverty, racism, and health problems.
Some of his most famous works include "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," which won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature in 2007, and "Smoke Signals," a film he wrote and co-produced that won the Audience Award and Filmmaker's Trophy at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. His numerous honors include a PEN/Hemingway Award, a PEN/Malamud Award, and he was named one of The New Yorker's 20 top writers for the 21st century.