Michael Dorris

Memoirist

Birthday January 30, 1945

Birth Sign Aquarius

Birthplace Kentucky

DEATH DATE Apr 10, 1997 (52)

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About

An American author and scholar, he is best known for his memoir, The Broken Cord, and for his novel, A Yellow Raft in Blue Water. He was the 1989 recipient of the National Book Critics Circle Award for General Nonfiction.

Before Fame

He studied English, Classics, and anthropology at Georgetown University and Yale University and later taught at Dartmouth College.

Trivia

After being accused of sexual abuse by two of his daughters, he committed suicide at the age of fifty-two.

Family Life

He married fellow writer, Louise Erdrich, in 1981. His memoir, The Broken Cord, details the challenges of raising his adopted son, Reynold Abel, who suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome.

Associated With

His autobiographical work, The Broken Cord, was made into a television movie starring Jimmy Smits.