Conversations with Dorothy Allison

Since the publication of her groundbreaking novel Bastard Out of Carolina (1992)Dorothy Allison (b. 1949) has been known-along with authors such as Larry Brownand Lee Smith-as a purveyor of the working class contemporary South. Allison hasfrequently used her position through passionate lectures and enthusiastic interviewsto give voice to issues that concern her most: poverty working-class life domestic violencefeminism and women's relationships the contemporary South and gay/lesbianlife. Often called a writer-rock star and a cult icon Allison is a true performer ofthe written word.At the same time Allison takes the craft of writing very seriously. In this collectionspanning almost two decades Allison the performer and Allison the carefulcraftsperson both emerge creating a portrait of a complex woman.In the absence of a biography of Allison's life Conversations with Dorothy Allisonpresents Allison's perspectives on her life literature and her conflicted role as apublic figure.Mae Miller Claxton is a professor of English at Western Carolina University. She is thecoeditor of Anthology of American Literature eighth edition volumes I and II (2003)and a contributing editor for The Heath Anthology of American Literature sixth editionvolumes A-E (2009). She has published articles in Mississippi Quarterly SouthernQuarterly South Atlantic Review and English Journal.