Susan Tyler Hitchcock is an American author, editor, and former educator whose work spans memoir, biography, cultural history, and science writing. With a Ph.D. in English from the University of Virginia, she began her career in publishing in the 1970s and taught humanities to engineering students at UVA for a decade. Her first book, Gather Ye Wild Things, launched a prolific writing career that includes Coming About, a memoir of a family sailing journey, and Frankenstein: A Cultural History, which explores the enduring legacy of Mary Shelley's monster. Hitchcock has also written acclaimed biographies of figures such as Mary Lamb and Karen Horney.
Since 2007, she has served as a senior book editor at National Geographic, developing titles focused on nature, science, and culture, and contributing her own writing to many of them. Her editorial work includes Geography of Religion, co-edited with John L. Esposito, which received praise for its balanced, richly illustrated approach to world religions.
Hitchcock's writing is distinguished by its depth of research, narrative clarity, and ability to make complex topics accessible to broad audiences. Whether chronicling personal adventures, exploring literary history, or guiding readers through scientific landscapes, she brings curiosity, insight, and humanity to every page. She lives in rural Virginia, where she gardens, explores nearby forests, and continues to write and edit. Her book Into the Forest, published by National Geographic, reflects her deep connection to the natural world and her continued passion for storytelling.