Paul Gruchow (May 23, 1947- February 22, 2004) is the author of seven volumes of essays, including the Necessity of Empty Places; Grass Roots: The Universe of Home; and Boundary Waters: Grace of the Wild all published by Milkweed Editions.

 

Paul's work has appeared in many anthologies including: The Best American Essays. Paul has won numerous awards, including two Minnesota Book Awards, the Flannagan Prize and the Critics Choice Award of the San Francisco Review of Books. He has taught at St Olaf College and Concordia College and has occupied the Gamaliel Chair of Peace and Justice at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. He was the Keller-Edlestein Minnesota Writer of Distinction at the University of Minnesota.