Housekeeping

novel by Robinson

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July 21, 2026

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Housekeeping is the debut novel by Marilynne Robinson, published in 1980. It tells the story of two young sisters, Ruth and Lucille, who are left in the care of their transient aunt Sylvie after their mother's suicide. The novel explores themes of family, belonging, and the search for home, set against the backdrop of the American West.1

The term "housekeeping" itself refers to the management of a home and its affairs, including cleaning and maintenance. In the context of the novel, Sylvie's unconventional lifestyle and transient nature challenge traditional notions of housekeeping and domesticity. The book was critically acclaimed, receiving the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award for best first novel.21

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Marilynne Robinson
Early life, education, and debut novel
…prominently in her debut novel, Housekeeping (1980). The story follows two adolescent sisters—Ruth, the narrator, and Lucille—who are passed between relatives after their mother dies by suicide and who eventually come into the care of their transient aunt Sylvie. Anatole Broyard’s enthusiastic review for The New York Times ensured the…
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…prominently in her debut novel, Housekeeping (1980). The story follows two adolescent sisters—Ruth, the narrator, and Lucille—who are passed between relatives after their mother dies by suicide and who eventually come into the care of their transient aunt Sylvie. Anatole Broyard’s enthusiastic review for The New York Times ensured the…
Read More