Alice Elliott Dark
Encyclopedia
Alice Elliott Dark is a modern short story
author
and novelist. She is the author of two story collections, Naked to the Waist and In the Gloaming
, and one novel Think of England.
and the University of Pennsylvania
, where she earned a BA in Chinese studies. She started out as a poet and earned an MFA from Antioch, producing a chapbook, This Is My Gun, Clyde, as her thesis.
was first published in The New Yorker
in 1994 and was selected by John Updike
for inclusion in the Best American Short Stories of the Century. Prior to that, it was included in The Best American Short Stories 1994
, as selected by Tobias Wolff
. In the Gloaming was made into an HBO film starring Glenn Close
and directed by Christopher Reeve
.
Dark's short story "Watch the Animals," first published in Harper's Magazine
, was subsequently awarded an O. Henry Award
in 2000. She has also published stories in Doubletake, Five Points, and Redbook. Her essays and reviews have appeared in publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Harper's Bazaar, and she is a frequent contributor of essays on a wide range of subjects to several anthologies.
, an annual book award for short story collections. She also has a son Asher Dark.
She is an Assistant Professor at Rutgers-Newark University.
In the 1980s, Dark shared a Manhattan apartment with fashion designer Tom Ford
.
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and novelist. She is the author of two story collections, Naked to the Waist and In the Gloaming
In the Gloaming
In the Gloaming is a 1997 HBO film directed by Christopher Reeve based on a story written by Alice Elliott Dark. Starring Glenn Close, Bridget Fonda, Whoopi Goldberg and Robert Sean Leonard. The film borrows its title from the popular 1877 song "In the Gloaming" by Annie Fortescue Harrison and Meta...
, and one novel Think of England.
Early life and education
She was born Alice Elliott Kirby in Philadelphia and grew up in Bryn Mawr where she attended the Shipley School. After that, she attended Kenyon CollegeKenyon College
Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, founded in 1824 by Bishop Philander Chase of The Episcopal Church, in parallel with the Bexley Hall seminary. It is the oldest private college in Ohio...
and the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, where she earned a BA in Chinese studies. She started out as a poet and earned an MFA from Antioch, producing a chapbook, This Is My Gun, Clyde, as her thesis.
Short stories and awards
The short story In the GloamingIn the Gloaming
In the Gloaming is a 1997 HBO film directed by Christopher Reeve based on a story written by Alice Elliott Dark. Starring Glenn Close, Bridget Fonda, Whoopi Goldberg and Robert Sean Leonard. The film borrows its title from the popular 1877 song "In the Gloaming" by Annie Fortescue Harrison and Meta...
was first published in The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
in 1994 and was selected by John Updike
John Updike
John Hoyer Updike was an American novelist, poet, short story writer, art critic, and literary critic....
for inclusion in the Best American Short Stories of the Century. Prior to that, it was included in The Best American Short Stories 1994
The Best American Short Stories 1994
The Best American Short Stories 1994, a volume in The Best American Short Stories series, was edited by Katrina Kennison and by guest editor Tobias Wolff.-Short stories included:...
, as selected by Tobias Wolff
Tobias Wolff
Tobias Jonathan Ansell Wolff is an American author. He is known for his memoirs, particularly This Boy's Life , and his short stories. He has also written two novels.-Biography:Wolff was born in 1945 in Birmingham, Alabama...
. In the Gloaming was made into an HBO film starring Glenn Close
Glenn Close
Glenn Close is an American actress and singer of theatre and film, known for her roles as a femme fatale Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress and singer of theatre and film, known for her roles as a femme fatale Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress and...
and directed by Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve
Christopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author and activist...
.
Dark's short story "Watch the Animals," first published in Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts, with a generally left-wing perspective. It is the second-oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. . The current editor is Ellen Rosenbush, who replaced Roger Hodge in January 2010...
, was subsequently awarded an O. Henry Award
O. Henry Award
The O. Henry Award is the only yearly award given to short stories of exceptional merit. The award is named after the American master of the form, O. Henry....
in 2000. She has also published stories in Doubletake, Five Points, and Redbook. Her essays and reviews have appeared in publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Harper's Bazaar, and she is a frequent contributor of essays on a wide range of subjects to several anthologies.
Current life
Dark is the recipient of an NEA grant and has taught at the Writer's Voice in New York City, Bard College, Manhattanville College, Barnard College, and Rutgers University. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, Larry Dark, formerly the Series Editor for Prize Stories: The O. Henry Awards and currently Director of The Story PrizeStory Prize
The Story Prize is an annual book award established in 2004 that honors the author of an outstanding collection of short fiction with a $20,000 cash award. Each of two runners-up receives $5,000. Eligible books must be written in English and first published in the United States during a calendar...
, an annual book award for short story collections. She also has a son Asher Dark.
She is an Assistant Professor at Rutgers-Newark University.
In the 1980s, Dark shared a Manhattan apartment with fashion designer Tom Ford
Tom Ford
Thomas Carlyle "Tom" Ford is an American fashion designer and film director. He gained international fame for his turnaround of the Gucci fashion house and the creation of the Tom Ford label before directing the Oscar-nominated film A Single Man.-Early life :Tom Ford was born August 27, 1961 in...
.