American Literature Web Resources: Louise Erdrich

A Brief Chronology

• 1954. Louise Erdrich is born in Little Falls, Minnesota on July 6, to a Chippewa mother and German-American father. She grows up in Wahpeton, North Dakota, where both of her parents are teachers for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
• 1972. Erdrich earns a scholarship and enters Dartmouth College as part of its first coeducational class. She also meets Michael Dorris, her future husband, here.
• 1978. Erdrich enrolls at John Hopkins University.
• 1980. Erdrich receives an M.F.A. degree from John Hopkins University. She becomes the Editor of the Boston Indian Council's newspaper, The Circle. She also writes her first book, Imagination.
• 1981. Imagination is published. Erdrich and Dorris marry.
• 1984. Erdrich wins the National Book Critics Circle Award for the Best Work of Fiction. Erdrich's collection of poetry, Jacklight, and first novel, Love Medicine, are published.
• 1985. Erdrich receives the John Simon Guggenheim Award. She is also awarded the Los Angeles Times prize for fiction.
• 1986. The Beet Queen, her novel dealing with the interactions between the worlds of whites and half-breeds, as well American Indians, is published.
• 1988. Erdrich's novel, Tracks, is published.
• 1989. Baptism of Desire, her second collection of poetry, is published.
• 1990. Route Two is published.
• 1991. Erdrich and Dorris's The Crown of Columbus is published.
• 1994. The Bingo Palace is published.
• 1995. The Bluejay's Dance is published.
• 1996. Erdrich's first children's book, Grandmother's Pigeon, is published. Tales of Burning Love is published.
• 1997. Erdrich's husband, Michael Dorris, commits suicide in April. They had been separated.
• 1998. Antelope Woman is published.

Internet Resources