Julia Alvarez

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Julia Alvarez (born March 27, 1950) is a Dominican-American poet, novelist, and essayist.

She came to fame with the book How the Garcs Lost Their Accents (1991), In the Time of the Butterflies (1994), and Yo! (1997).

Homecoming (1984) and The Woman I Kept to Myself (2004), as an essayist, and Something to Declare (1998).

Several literary commentators regard her as one of the most influential Latina writers, and she has had a worldwide reputation. Julia Alvarez has also written several books for younger readers.

"The Secret Footprints," her first picture book for children, was published in 2002.

Alvarez has since written several books for young readers, including the "Ta Lola" book series, before her family had to leave the Dominican Republic due to her father's involvement in a political rebellion.

Many of Alvarez's works are influenced by her experience as a Dominican immigrant in the United States, and she focuses heavily on issues of assimilation and identity.

In the combination of personal and political tone in her writing, her cultural upbringing as both a Dominican and an American is evident.

She is best known for her studies into female cultural aspirations both in the Dominican Republic and the United States, as well as thorough investigation of cultural stereotypes.

Alvarez has widened her subject matter in recent years, with books like 'In the Name of Salomé (2000), a book about Cubans rather than solely Dominican characters and fictionalized versions of historical figures. Alvarez is Middlebury College's current writer-in-residence, in addition to her prolific writing career.

Early life and education

Julia Alvarez was born in 1950 in New York City. Her family moved back to the Dominican Republic, where they lived for the next ten years, when she was three months old. She attended the Carol Morgan School. She grew up with her extended family in a way that maids could enjoy the services of maids. Dominicans value story-telling, according to Critic Silvio Sirias, who was "often called on to entertain guests." For example, the family was compelled to leave the Dominican Republic in 1960 after her father was involved in a failed plot to overthrowrown the island's military dictator, Rafael Trujillo, and her book "Exile" depicts a family that is forced to leave the country under similar circumstances, and she describes it as "loss much larger than I expected."

Alvarez's move from the Dominican Republic to the United States was difficult; Sirias says she "lost virtually everything": a homeland, a language, family connections, a way of expressing, and a warmth. In her new environment, she experienced alienation, homesickness, and mistrust. A character in How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents claims that raising "consciousness [in the Dominican Republic] would be like trying to raise "consciousness [in the Dominican Republic] would be like trying to reach cathedral ceilings in a tunnel."

Alvarez, one of the few Latin American students in her Catholic school, was discriminated against because of her ethnicity. She turned inward and culminated in her fascination with literature, which she described as her "portable homeland." Many of her teachers encouraged her to write, and she was firmly convinced that this was what she wanted to do with her life from a young age. Since the local schools were not considered appropriate, her parents sent her to Abbot Academy, a boarding school, at the age of 13. As a result, her relationship with her parents deteriorated and became even more difficult when every summer she returned to Dominican Republic to "reinforce their identities not only as Dominicans but also as a mature young lady." These regular conversations between cultures provided her with a broader perspective on her culture, which was the genesis of several of her works.

She attended Connecticut College from 1967 to 1969 (where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree) and then to Middlebury College, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree (1971). She then earned a master's degree from Syracuse University (1975).

Alvarez took up a writer-in-residence for the Kentucky Arts Commission after receiving a master's degree in 1975. She travelled around the state, visiting elementary schools, high schools, colleges, and churches, teaching writing workshops and lecturing. These years have given her a deeper understanding of America and inspired her to pursue her passion for teaching. After her work in Kentucky, she migrated to California, Delaware, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., and Illinois.

Alvarez served as a visiting assistant professor of English at the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont, from 1981 to 1983. She taught fiction and poetry workshops, both for upperclassmen and graduate students), as well as a fiction course (lecture style, 45 students).

Alvarez also writes. Alvarez also works at Middlebury College, where she teaches creative writing part-time. Alvarez now lives in the Champlain Valley, Vermont. She has served as a judge for literary awards, including the PEN/Newman's Own First Amendment Award and the Casa de las Américas Prize, as well as authorship and research. Alta Gracia, a farm-literacy center devoted to the promotion of environmental sustainability and literacy worldwide, was founded by her and her partner, Bill Eichner, an ophthalmologist. In the Dominican Republic, Alvarez and her husband bought the farm in 1996 with the intention of promoting cooperative and independent coffee-farming. Alvarez is a member of Border of Lights, an advocacy group that promotes positive interactions between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

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Career

Alvarez took up a writer-in-residence for the Kentucky Arts Commission after earning a master's degree in 1975. She travelled around the state visiting elementary schools, high schools, colleges, and churches, giving writing workshops and lecturing. These years have given her a deeper insight into America and helped her discover her love for teaching. She expanded her educational interests to California, Delaware, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., and Illinois after her work in Kentucky.

Alvarez, a Visiting Assistant Professor of English at the University of Vermont in Burlington, VT, for a two-year appointment in creative writing, 1981–83. She led fiction and poetry workshops, both for upperclassmen and graduate students, as well as a course on fiction (lecture format, 45 students).

Alvarez also writes and teaches creative writing at Middlebury College, where she works as a writer-in-residence. Alvarez lives in Vermont's Champlain Valley. She has worked as a judge on literary awards, including the PEN/Newman's Own First Amendment Award and the Casa de las Américas Prize, as well as readings and lectures around the country. Bill Eichner, an ophthalmologist, and her partner, Bill Eichner, established Alta Gracia, a farm-literacy center dedicated to the promotion of environmental literacy and education around the world. In the Dominican Republic, Alvarez and her husband purchased the farm in 1996 with the intention of fostering cooperative and independent coffee-farming. Alvarez is a member of Border of Lights, an advocacy group that promotes positive relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

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