Dorothy Allison is one of the famous Activist, who was born on the memorable day of April 11 in the year 1949. Hailing from the vibrant city of South Carolina, Dorothy Allison is a proud citizen of United States.
An American feminist writer whose works discuss sexual abuse, lesbianism, and class struggle, she is best known for Trash: Short Stories (1988) and Skin: Talking About Sex, Class, & Literature (1994). Her autobiographical novel, Bastard Out of Carolina (1992), was a finalist for the National Book Award.
Over the years, not only have skills been honed, but a significant impact has also been made in the professional field. Whether it's through work, public appearances, or contributions to the community, Dorothy Allison continues to be an inspiration for many.
Personal Information
Details about Dorothy Allison
Popular As:
Dorothy Allison
First Name:
Dorothy
Last Name:
Allison
Gender:
Female
Birthday:
April 11
Birth Year:
1949
Age:
74-years
Education:
Eckerd College; New School for Social Research; Florida State University
Career
After graduating from Florida Presbyterian College, she worked as a maid and a substitute teacher.
Her second novel, Cavedweller, was a New York Times bestselling book and also won a Lambda Literary Award.
Family
Born in South Carolina, she settled in California with partner Alix Layman. She was influenced by the literary work of Toni Morrison.
Dorothy Allison Timeline
1967
In 1967, Allison attended Florida Presbyterian College (now Eckerd College) on a National Merit scholarship.
1971
She graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology.
1973
From 1973 to 1974, she was the editor of the feminist magazine Amazing Grace, in Tallahassee, Florida.
1980
In the early 1980s, Allison met Lorde at a poetry reading.
1981
Also around this time, Allison severed all ties to her family until 1981.
1983
Allison's first book of poetry, The Women Who Hate Me, was published with Long Haul Press in 1983.
1988
In 1988, her first short story collection, Trash, was published by Firebrand Books.
1990
Publishing Triangle named Bastard Out of Carolina one of "The Triangle’s 100 Best " novels of the 1990s.
1992
Her first novel Bastard Out of Carolina was published in 1992 to great acclaim, becoming a best-seller.
1997
In November 1997, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed a State Board of Education decision to ban the book in public high schools because of its graphic content.
1998
In 1998, Allison founded The Independent Spirit Award to support writers who help sustain small presses and independent bookstores.
2006
In 2006, Allison was the writer in residence at Columbia College in Chicago.
.
2007
During spring 2007, Allison was Emory University Center for Humanistic Inquiry’s Distinguished Visiting Professor.
.
2008
Allison held a three-month residency at Emory University in Atlanta in 2008 as the Bill and Carol Fox Center Distinguished Visiting Professor.
2009
In fall 2009, Allison was The McGee Professor and writer in residence at Davidson College, in North Carolina.
2014
In 2014, Allison was elected to membership in the Fellowship of Southern Writers.
2018
In 2018, Allison received the Trailblazer Award from the Golden Crown Literary Society for being, in the words of Karin Kallmaker, "the original firebrand.
2019
In 2019, the Alice B Readers Appreciation Committee of The Alice B Readers Award bestowed the coveted Alice B Medal and honorarium upon Allison. and the Thomas Wolfe Prize .
