Michael Dorris

Michael Dorris was a highly influential American author, known for his intelligent and thoughtfully written novels, short stories, children's books, and non-fiction works. Dorris, who was part-Native American, was the first member of his family to attend college. He graduated from Georgetown with honors in English and received his graduate degree in anthropology from Yale. Dorris went on to work as a professor of English and anthropology at Dartmouth College.

In 1972, Dorris founded the Native American Studies department at Dartmouth and chaired it until 1985. His work in this field often informed his writing, with many of his novels and non-fiction works exploring themes related to Native American culture and history. In addition to his academic and literary pursuits, Dorris was also a devoted father. In 1971, he became the first unmarried man in the United States to adopt a child, and his experiences as a single parent to a son with fetal alcohol syndrome became the subject of his influential book, The Broken Cord.

Dorris was also married to aspiring writer Louise Erdrich, and the two edited and contributed to each other's writing throughout their relationship. However, their marriage was not without its struggles. In 1991, Dorris' adopted son, Reynold Abel, died after being hit by a car, and in 1996, Erdrich separated from Dorris. On April 10, 1997, Dorris committed suicide in Concord, New Hampshire. Despite the challenges he faced in his personal life, Dorris left behind a lasting legacy as a talented and impactful author.