"The life and writing of Dorothy Allison illustrate her firm commitment to the two 'outlaw' cultures with which she identifies," wrote a critic for Contemporary Southern Writers, "her 'white trash' So...
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In the following positive review of Cavedweller, Wypijewski praises Allison's ability to create fully fleshed, multifaceted characters that have both unlikable and redeeming qualities.
Up a ...
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In the following mixed review, Greif argues that although the opening of Cavedweller holds promise, the various characters and their life experiences eventually become tangential and repetitive.
Th...
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In the following positive review, Graff praises Allison for writing about such controversial subject matter in Skin: Talking about Sex, Class, & Literature.
I moved East in 1980, fresh from ...
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In the following interview, Allison and Megan discuss Allison's past and the parallels between her life and works.
In March 1993 Dorothy Allison's novel, Bastard Out of Carolina, nomi...
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In the following positive review of Skin: Talking about Sex, Class, & Literature, Tomaso commends Allison's bravery and skill at personal introspection.
Dorothy Allison loves sex. She...
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In the following interview, originally conducted in March 1995, Allison discusses how racism, illiteracy, Southern working-class stereotypes, and her lesbianism affect her life and her writing.
On ...
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In the following essay, Kendrick explores the balance between the autobiographical and the fictional elements in Allison's works.
In Dorothy Allison's five books, she has never repeat...
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In the following essay, Sandell explores the class distinctions and prejudices in the works of Dorothy Allison, noting that even specialized communities (e.g., lesbian and gay communities, racial grou...
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In the following essay, Reynolds discusses Allison's childhood and literary career, including excerpts from an interview with Allison.
Back in 1992, when Dorothy Allison burst into the liter...
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In the following negative review, Richardson expresses her disappointment with Cavedweller, describing the novel as unconvincing, overly dramatic, and lacking focus.
Dorothy Allison put the dirt in...
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ANNE AND RJ HAVE BOUGHT A HOUSE and had a baby together. They share a bed, a bathroom, even a toothbrush when necessary. And yet, until a few months ago, their 200-plus CDs had remained strictly se...
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Dorothy Allison
Critical Review by Joann Wypijewski
Mergers & Acquisitions
