Annie Dillard, Pulitzer-winning author of 'Pilgrim at Tinker Creek,' dies at 81

Annie Dillard, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, died at age 81.

She died Tuesday of natural causes at her home in South Wellfleet, Massachusetts.

She won the Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction for 'Pilgrim at Tinker Creek,' published in 1974.

She taught for more than 20 years at Wesleyan University before retiring in 2002.

before 1974: Dillard wrote her master's thesis on Thoreau at Hollins College. · 1974: 'Pilgrim at Tinker Creek' was published and won the Pulitzer for nonfiction. · 1975: Dillard divorced her first husband, Richard Dillard, after 10 years of marriage. · 1987: Dillard published the memoir 'An American Childhood.' · 2002: Dillard retired from teaching at Wesleyan University. · 2015: President Obama presented Dillard with a National Humanities Medal.

81 age at death · 1974 publication year · 2002 retirement year · 2008 award finalist year · 3 number of marriages