Alice Walker is an American novelist, poet, and activist. She is best known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Color Purple, which was later adapted into a film and musical of the same name. Walker's other works include Meridian, The Third Life of Grange Copeland, and Possessing the Secret of Joy. She has also written several volumes of poetry and children's books. Walker is an advocate for human rights and has received numerous awards for her work, including the National Book Award and the Lillian Smith Award.