Ann Beattie is an American author born in 1947 in Washington D.C. She received a B.A. from American University and M.A. from University of Connecticut. Beattie has taught at several universities and currently holds the position of Edgar Allen Poe Chair of the Department of English and Writing at the University of Virginia. She is known for her novels, short story collections, and stories published in magazines. Her writing often explores themes of rocky relationships and aging seen through vivid characters.

1. Ann Beattie

2. Life Born September 8, 1947 in Washington D.C. Grew up in Washington D.C. in the 1960s Married, divorced and remarried

3. Degrees B. A. American University, 1969 M. A. University of Connecticut, 1970

4. Career (other than being an author) She has taught at: Harvard College University of Connecticut Currently teaches at: University of Virginia She is the Edgar Allen Poe Chair of the Department of English and Writing

5. Novels Chilly Scenes of Winter (1976) it was subsequently adapted as the film Head Over Heels (1979), which was later rereleased as Chilly Scenes of Winter (1982). Falling in Place (1981) Love Always (1986) Picturing Will (1990) Another You (1995) My Life, Starring Dara Falcon (1997) The Doctor's House (2002)

6. Short Story Collections Distortions (1976) Secrets and Surprises (1978) The Burning House (1982) What Was Mine (1991) Where You’ll Find Me and Other Stories (1993) Park City (1998) Perfect Recall (2000) Follies: New Stories (2005)

7. Writing Styles Rocky relationships Aging Emotions Influenced by Hemmingway Idiomatic humor

8. Articles Appeared in: Life The New Yorker Harper’s Esquire The Western Humanities Review Ninth Letter The Atlantic Monthly

9. Honors Award in Literature, American Academy of Arts and Letters, 1980 Guggenheim Fellowship, 1978 Elected to membership in the American Academy of Arts and Letters, 1993 Vice President for Literature, American Academy of Arts and Letters, 1998-1999 PEN / Malamud Award for Excellence in Short Fiction, 2000

10. Weekend – Characters George Ex-english professor Likes to get drunk with old students Lenore Timid woman, lives with george Doesn’t speak what she is thinking

11. Weekend – Characters (cont’d) Sarah Old student of George’s Helped george get rehired as teacher Julie Sarah’s friend for two years Identifies with Lenore

12. Weekend George and Lenore live together with a baby boy and a 5 year old girl, Maria. George always invite his ex-students to stay for the weekend Lenore overheard george calling her “simple” to one of her guests.

13. Weekend George usually takes “hikes” with the girls he invites to stay for the weekend. The girls’ friends usually stay at the house and play with children and help with dinner. One man asks Lenore how she lets George take these hikes.

14. Weekend Julie and Sarah come to visit george for the weekend George and Sarah go for a “Hike” while Julie and Lenore stay home, then it starts to rain. Julie takes Lenore’s car to search for them and returns unsuccessful. Julie is alarmed that Lenore is not worried.

15. Weekend When George and Sarah return, they claim to have just sat at a restaurant while they waited for the rain to pass, then hitch-hiked home. The rest of the day they spent in the house talking next to the fire and eating dinner. That evening George and Sarah go back outside in the rain while Lenore goes upstairs to put the child to bed.

16. Weekend While George and Sarah are outside Julie and Lenore talk about what they could be doing. Lenore doesn’t like to think about it.

17. Weekend George and Sarah return to the house drunk and hanging on eachother. George tells Lenore and Julie, “Speak no evil, Hear no evil” as he hugs Sarah and claims that he is in love with her. Sarah takes off running upstairs and starts to cry.

18. Weekend Lenore tends to the baby that woke up because of Sarah’s crying, then continues to bed herself. Julie informs Lenore that her and Sarah are leaving and they do so. Lenore can’t sleep so she goes downstairs where George is obviously disgruntled about Sarah not letting him have his way with her.

19. Weekend Lenore lays her head on George’s shoulder and they remain sitting together in silence.

20. Chilly Scenes of Winter Originally released as Head Over Heels (1979) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj_2LxY757I http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju9yFA1S7K8

21. Current Projects A novella and a new collection of stories. Writing about photography for the 21st Century: A Journal of Contemporary Photography

22. Review Questions Where was Ann Beattie born? Washington D.C. Where did she receive her bachelor’s degree and when? American University (1969)

23. Review Questions cont’d What is her position at the University of Virginia? Edgar Allen Poe Chair of the Dept. of English and Writing. What is the name of the movie released in 1979 based on her first novel? Head over Heels (1979)

24. Web-site review http://biography.jrank.org/pages/4143/Beattie-Ann.html No links, media or graphics Accurately describes Beattie’s life Useful research information

25. Websites used in Presentation http://www.engl.virginia.edu/faculty/beattie_ann.shtml http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/57553/Ann-Beattie