Julia Alvarez (1951- ) Background and Biography

Early Life in Dominican Republic Born March 27, 1951 Born March 27, 1951 Spent the first ten years of her life in the country of her birth (DR) Spent the first ten years of her life in the country of her birth (DR) Grew up in an affluent family, surrounded by maids Grew up in an affluent family, surrounded by maids Experienced security and comfort of living in an extended family, including grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins Experienced security and comfort of living in an extended family, including grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins

Early Life in Dominican Republic Alvarez says that she did only very little reading in those early years, even “hated books, school, anything that had to do with work.” Alvarez says that she did only very little reading in those early years, even “hated books, school, anything that had to do with work.” However, Dominican culture is steeped in oral traditions, putting a high value on a well told story and a skilled story-teller However, Dominican culture is steeped in oral traditions, putting a high value on a well told story and a skilled story-teller As a young child, she became proficient at reciting poetry and was often asked to entertain guests As a young child, she became proficient at reciting poetry and was often asked to entertain guests

Politics and Family Involvement Politically, however, the life of her family was all but blissful Politically, however, the life of her family was all but blissful DR was ruled by the dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo DR was ruled by the dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Julia’s father (a medical doctor) became involved in a failed plot to overthrow the dictator Julia’s father (a medical doctor) became involved in a failed plot to overthrow the dictator Soon after the plot was discovered, he was implicated Soon after the plot was discovered, he was implicated Through the intervention of some American co- conspirators, her father was offered a fellowship to specialize in heart surgery in the US Through the intervention of some American co- conspirators, her father was offered a fellowship to specialize in heart surgery in the US Surprisingly, Trujillo’s government granted her father and his family permission to leave the DR Surprisingly, Trujillo’s government granted her father and his family permission to leave the DR

Emigration/Immigration Julia was thus up-rooted very suddenly from her accustomed environment Julia was thus up-rooted very suddenly from her accustomed environment Quote: “I lost almost everything: a homeland, a language, family connections, a way of understanding, a warmth.” Quote: “I lost almost everything: a homeland, a language, family connections, a way of understanding, a warmth.” Like many immigrants, the Alvarez family experienced considerable difficulties adjusting to customs and language of the US Like many immigrants, the Alvarez family experienced considerable difficulties adjusting to customs and language of the US

Immigration and Language Especially, speaking a language other than English was considered “Un-American” Especially, speaking a language other than English was considered “Un-American” (note to class: and still is by many Americans supporting an “English-only” or English as official language movement….we will talk about language as both a personal and political issue when we discuss the book) (note to class: and still is by many Americans supporting an “English-only” or English as official language movement….we will talk about language as both a personal and political issue when we discuss the book) Alvarez quickly learned English and thus lost much of her mother tongue, Spanish Alvarez quickly learned English and thus lost much of her mother tongue, Spanish Today, she speaks Spanish only with an American accent and would never consider writing creatively in her native language Today, she speaks Spanish only with an American accent and would never consider writing creatively in her native language Quote: “I say what happened to me is that we left the Dominican Republic and I landed not in the U.S., but in English.” Quote: “I say what happened to me is that we left the Dominican Republic and I landed not in the U.S., but in English.” Though “losing her accent” was difficult for her, she states that the English language—more than the US as a country—became her “homeland” Though “losing her accent” was difficult for her, she states that the English language—more than the US as a country—became her “homeland”

Difficulties of Assimilation Taunted on the playground; she isolated herself from her schoolmates, also leading her to discover books Taunted on the playground; she isolated herself from her schoolmates, also leading her to discover books She decided early on to become a writer She decided early on to become a writer She learned English much quicker than her parents and became independent of the highly restrictive traditions of her home country She learned English much quicker than her parents and became independent of the highly restrictive traditions of her home country Family settled in Queens, New York, but did not consider the area safe; her parents also did not consider the public or Catholic schools adequate and sent Julia, at age 13, to a boarding school Family settled in Queens, New York, but did not consider the area safe; her parents also did not consider the public or Catholic schools adequate and sent Julia, at age 13, to a boarding school Since then, she never permanently lived with her immediate family again; during the summers, she and her sisters were sent to the DR with the express purpose to stay in touch with their culture and language Since then, she never permanently lived with her immediate family again; during the summers, she and her sisters were sent to the DR with the express purpose to stay in touch with their culture and language She became interested in the differences between the two cultures; in the DR, she especially observed the gap in living conditions between rich and poor, and double standards between men and women She became interested in the differences between the two cultures; in the DR, she especially observed the gap in living conditions between rich and poor, and double standards between men and women

Education and Jobs Graduated high school in 1967 Graduated high school in 1967 Attended Connecticut College for two years, winning a poetry prize there Attended Connecticut College for two years, winning a poetry prize there Transferred to Middlebury College in Vermont to pursue creative writing, graduating in 1971 Transferred to Middlebury College in Vermont to pursue creative writing, graduating in 1971 Masters degree in creative writing from Syracuse University in 1975 Masters degree in creative writing from Syracuse University in 1975 So far, she was writing only poetry, as well as translating Spanish-language poetry into English So far, she was writing only poetry, as well as translating Spanish-language poetry into English

Education and Jobs Spent two years traveling Kentucky backroads as “writer-in-residence” Spent two years traveling Kentucky backroads as “writer-in-residence” Holds a number of transitory jobs in various states Holds a number of transitory jobs in various states After a position as Assistant professor of English at the University of Illinois, she returns to teach at Middlebury College in Vermont After a position as Assistant professor of English at the University of Illinois, she returns to teach at Middlebury College in Vermont

Development of her Writing Poetry writing gains her some national recognition and prizes, but hardly allows her to make a living Poetry writing gains her some national recognition and prizes, but hardly allows her to make a living She begins to write fiction (short stories) in the late 1970s She begins to write fiction (short stories) in the late 1970s Since she first gained a voice as a poet, it still takes her years to write and publish her first novel, How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents (publ. 1991) Since she first gained a voice as a poet, it still takes her years to write and publish her first novel, How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents (publ. 1991) The novel was a success among critics as well as the larger public, winning several fiction prizes The novel was a success among critics as well as the larger public, winning several fiction prizes

Development of her Writing Novel began one of her trademarks: drawing from personal experience Novel began one of her trademarks: drawing from personal experience Most of the characters and incidents in the novel were inspired by actual people and events (like the Garcia girls in the book, she is one of four sisters) Most of the characters and incidents in the novel were inspired by actual people and events (like the Garcia girls in the book, she is one of four sisters) After the novel appeared in print, her mother refused to speak to her for several months and her sisters first disdained her for her open treatment of the family in the book. After the novel appeared in print, her mother refused to speak to her for several months and her sisters first disdained her for her open treatment of the family in the book. Eventually, however, her family came to embrace and be proud of her work. Eventually, however, her family came to embrace and be proud of her work.

Her Work and the Literary Landscape Alvarez becomes spokesperson of a growing group of Latina writers, although she resents such a role, saying that “There is no spokesperson! There are many realities, different shades and classes.” Alvarez becomes spokesperson of a growing group of Latina writers, although she resents such a role, saying that “There is no spokesperson! There are many realities, different shades and classes.” Thus, she also doesn’t fit into neat categories of American literary landscapes. Thus, she also doesn’t fit into neat categories of American literary landscapes. She is neither a mainstream American writer nor a Dominican in the traditional sense. She is neither a mainstream American writer nor a Dominican in the traditional sense. She rejects being placed into the margins or understood only as if she was writing exclusively for Latinos/as She rejects being placed into the margins or understood only as if she was writing exclusively for Latinos/as Claims that a writer coming from outside of the mainstream can make a unique contribution to writing about the American experience Claims that a writer coming from outside of the mainstream can make a unique contribution to writing about the American experience

Other works In the Time of the Butterflies (1994) In the Time of the Butterflies (1994) She also continues to write and publish poetry She also continues to write and publish poetry Yo! (about her alter ego, Yolanda, who is the main narrator of How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent) Yo! (about her alter ego, Yolanda, who is the main narrator of How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent) Fourth novel: In the Name of Salome Fourth novel: In the Name of Salome Eventually also publishes a children’s book, a book for young adults, and a cook book Eventually also publishes a children’s book, a book for young adults, and a cook book

Motivation for Writing She claims in interviews that she writes to discover what she is thinking, to discover who she is, and to understand the world in general. She claims in interviews that she writes to discover what she is thinking, to discover who she is, and to understand the world in general. Her role model: Scheherazade, the story teller of Thousand and One Nights Her role model: Scheherazade, the story teller of Thousand and One Nights “My heroine of all times is Scheherazade, who by the telling of stories gains her life, saves the other women in the kingdom, and transforms the sultan’s hatred to love.” “My heroine of all times is Scheherazade, who by the telling of stories gains her life, saves the other women in the kingdom, and transforms the sultan’s hatred to love.”

How the García Girls Lost Their Accent Divided into 3 sections that work backwards (chronologically): Divided into 3 sections that work backwards (chronologically): I: II: III: Alvarez provides a genealogical graph up front (Try to detect the humor in it!) -The García girls: Carla, Sandra (Sandi), Yolanda (Yo, Yo Yo, Joe), Sofía (Fifi).