Ann Petry (12 October, 1908 – 28 April, 1997) was an American novelist, author of children’s books and short stories.
- The author was born as Ann Lane in Old Saybrook, CT. At the time she was one of 15 African Americans in the town.
- The author’s father was a pharmacist, her mother a shop owner. Anna Louise James, the first African American pharmacist in Connecticut was her aunt.
- She was also a pharmacist by profession, even though she wanted to be a writer since high school.
- After marrying George D. Petry in 1938, the author moved to New York City working as a journalist.
- The couple had one daughter, Liz.
- The Street (1946) was the first novel by an African-American woman to sell more than a million copies.
- The Street also won the Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship award.
- Petry was also an actress with the American Negro Theater.
- Along with her writing career, Mrs. Petry was also a lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley, Miami University and Suffolk University. She was also a Visiting Professor of English at the University of Hawaii.
- Petry passed away at Old Saybrook, she was 88 years old.
Zohar — Man of la Book
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Fun Facts Friday: Ann Petry
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Ann Petry (12 October, 1908 – 28 April, 1997) was an American novelist, author of children’s books and short stories.
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Man of la Book
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Man of la Book - A Bookish Blog
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