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Gilead is a novel written by Marilynne Robinson and published in 2004. Set in 1956, the novel is composed of the memoirs of Reverend John Ames, a Congregationalist minister in the fictional town of Gilead, Iowa, as he tries to set down the story of his life for his young son before Reverend Ames dies. Ames story is largely concerned with the people who have surrounded him, including his father, grandfather, wives, best friend, and best friend's son. Through these characters-and particularly Ames's engagement with them-Robinson is able to explore subtle topics like self-reflection, faith, and Christian identity. The novel is particularly focused on reexamining the image of Calvinist Christianity in American culture, and in steering that image away from the stereotype of the sexist, fun-hating puritan. Gilead won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and has been identified as one of President Barak Obama's favorite books.
