In 1947 Ann Beattie was born in Washington, D.C. She grew up in a middle-class suburb and graduated near the bottom of her class in 1965. She attributed her poor academic record to a lack of interest; in an interview with Gene Lyons, she stated that she believes she was clinically depressed during her high school years.

She attended American University, where she earned a degree in English in just three years. In 1970 she received a M.A. in English from the University of Connecticut. Although she began work on a Ph.D. at the University of Connecticut, she did not complete it, dropping out after a few of her stories were published.

In 1973 Beattie published her first major short story, "Victor Blue," in Atlantic Monthly. In 1974 the New Yorker published the story "A Platonic Relationship." Beattie became a regular contributor to the New Yorker.

"Janus" first...