Black Ice (memoir)
Encyclopedia
Black Ice is a memoir
by American author Lorene Cary
. First published in 1991
, it relates the African American author's experiences at the elite St. Paul's boarding school
in New Hampshire
. The book, Cary's first publication and the stepping stone to her career as a writer, was a critical and commercial success.
. In 1972, she was invited to the "elite" St. Paul's boarding school
in New Hampshire
, on scholarship, as only the second African-American female student. She spent two years at St. Paul's, graduating in 1974, and then worked as a journalist for publications including Time
. After first writing about her experience at St. Paul's in a magazine article in 1988, she published a more complete memoir, Black Ice.
, and Phillip Lopate
, reviewing the book for The New York Times
called it a "stunning memoir". The book, "bruisingly honest about class, race and sex in America", found success with the critics and was shortlisted the same year by The New York Times as "summer reading"; her first publication, it was republished the next year by Vintage Books
.
Memoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
by American author Lorene Cary
Lorene Cary
Lorene Cary is an American author, educator, and social activist.-Biography:Cary grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1972, she was invited to the "elite" St. Paul's boarding school in New Hampshire, on scholarship, as only the second African-American female...
. First published in 1991
1991 in literature
The year 1991 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Douglas Coupland publishes the novel Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture, popularizing the term Generation X as the name of the generation....
, it relates the African American author's experiences at the elite St. Paul's boarding school
St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire)
St. Paul's School is a highly selective college-preparatory, coeducational boarding school in Concord, New Hampshire affiliated with the Episcopal Church. The school is one of only six remaining 100% residential boarding schools in the U.S. The New Hampshire campus currently serves 533 students,...
in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. The book, Cary's first publication and the stepping stone to her career as a writer, was a critical and commercial success.
Background
Cary grew up in a working-class background in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. In 1972, she was invited to the "elite" St. Paul's boarding school
St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire)
St. Paul's School is a highly selective college-preparatory, coeducational boarding school in Concord, New Hampshire affiliated with the Episcopal Church. The school is one of only six remaining 100% residential boarding schools in the U.S. The New Hampshire campus currently serves 533 students,...
in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, on scholarship, as only the second African-American female student. She spent two years at St. Paul's, graduating in 1974, and then worked as a journalist for publications including Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
. After first writing about her experience at St. Paul's in a magazine article in 1988, she published a more complete memoir, Black Ice.
Publication and reception
The book was published in 1991 by Alfred A. KnopfAlfred A. Knopf
Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. is a New York publishing house, founded by Alfred A. Knopf, Sr. in 1915. It was acquired by Random House in 1960 and is now part of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group at Random House. The publishing house is known for its borzoi trademark , which was designed by co-founder...
, and Phillip Lopate
Phillip Lopate
Doctor Phillip Lopate is an American film critic, essayist, fiction writer, poet, and teacher. He is the younger brother of radio host Leonard Lopate.-Early life and education:...
, reviewing the book for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
called it a "stunning memoir". The book, "bruisingly honest about class, race and sex in America", found success with the critics and was shortlisted the same year by The New York Times as "summer reading"; her first publication, it was republished the next year by Vintage Books
Vintage Books
Vintage Books is a publishing imprint founded in 1954 by Alfred A. Knopf. Its publishing list includes world literature, fiction, and non-fiction...
.