Photo: Ubud Writers & Readers Festival / CC BY 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Hanya Yanagihara, born on September 20, 1974 in Los Angeles, California, United States, is a novelist, journalist and magazine writer. As of 2026, Hanya Yanagihara is 51 years old. Schooling on record includes Smith College. Listed accolades include Kirkus Prize (2015). Credited works include The People in the Trees, A Little Life and To Paradise.
My Take
Hanya Yanagihara writes the kind of fiction that unsettles me in the best way. A Little Life confronts trauma and friendship with a directness most novelists shy away from, and few books have lodged in my mind so stubbornly. What fascinates me is her double life, leading T Magazine at the summit of editorial prestige while privately crafting these enormous, demanding novels. Her work clearly divides readers, but for those it reaches, it reaches completely. She refuses easy comfort and digs into human darkness with rare nerve. That an author of Japanese descent commands such a global readership is, frankly, something I take pride in.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Hanya Yanagihara
- Name (Japanese)
- ハニヤ・ヤナギハラ
- Reading
- はにや・やなぎはら
- Born
- September 20, 1974 (age 51)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Virgo / Tiger
- Origin
- Los Angeles, California, United States
- Occupation
- novelist / journalist / writer / magazine writer
2. Background
- University
- Smith College
Awards & achievements
- 2015 Kirkus Prize
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | The People in the Trees | — | |
| Notable work | A Little Life | — | |
| Notable work | To Paradise | — |
4. Links
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Hanya Yanagihara born?
Born September 20, 1974 (age 51).
Where is Hanya Yanagihara from?
Hanya Yanagihara is from Los Angeles, California, United States.
What does Hanya Yanagihara do?
Hanya Yanagihara works as novelist, journalist, writer, magazine writer.
What is Hanya Yanagihara known for?
Notable works include The People in the Trees, A Little Life, To Paradise.
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