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BIO
Born Elaine Potter Richardson in Antigua on May 25th, 1949, Kincaid was raised by her
mother, never knowing her father. After growing contemptuous of the British regime in her
homeland --- she left the Caribbean at the age of 17 to pursue an opportunity as an au
pair in New York. Once in NY she dyed her hair blonde, changed her name to Jamaica
Kincaid, cut off all ties with her mother and began writing classes at The New School.
While accompanying George W.S. Trow, as he researched pieces for the New Yorker
column "Talk of the Town," Kincaid started taking notes on events in the city.
Trow passed her notes on to William Shawn, then the editor of the New Yorker, who
recognized Kincaid's talent and decided to print her notes as a piece. Shawn then went on
to publish "Girl," a piece of Kincaid's short fiction in 1978. A year later,
Kincaid married the composer Allen Shawn (William Shawn's son). Kincaid wrote regularly
for the New Yorker until fairly recently when she left, citing she was displeased
with the vision of new editor.
In 1983 she published her first collection of short stories, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER.
Then, in 1985 she published her first novel, ANNIE JOHN. Some of the her other works of
fiction and nonfiction include ANNIE, GWEN, LILLY, PAM, AND TULIP (1986), A SMALL PLACE
(1988), LUCY (1990), AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MY MOTHER (1996), MY BROTHER (1997), TALK STORIES
(2000) and MY GARDEN BOOK (2001).
Kincaid now lives in Vermont with her husband and two children.
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