Grace Paley (1922–2007,) née Goodside, was an American short-story writer and poet known for her realistic seriocomic portrayals of working-class New Yorkers and her political activism during the Vietnam War period.
Born to Russian-Jewish immigrants in the Bronx, New York City, Paley was educated at Hunter College, New York, and taught in several American colleges. Her subtle and discursive short stories are usually set in New York and often feature Jewish settings and themes.
In the ’60s and ’70s, Paley was sent to jail for civil disobedience during the Vietnam period and feminism.
Paley’s Little Disturbances of Man (1959) and Enormous Changes at the Last Minute (1974) share a common wit, compassion, and characteristic tone of voice. Her support of the peace movement is evident in Later the Same Day (1985) and the non-fiction 365 Reasons Not to Have Another War (1989.)
Paley’s writings include Begin Again: New and Collected Poems (1992,) the collection of poems and stories Long Walks and Intimate Talks (1991,) and the essay collection Just as I Thought (1997.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Grace Paley
The word career is a divisive word. It’s a word that divides the normal life from business or professional life.
—Grace Paley
Topics: Career
Rosiness is not a worse windowpane than gloomy gray when viewing the world.
—Grace Paley
Topics: Optimism, Positive Attitudes, Mindsets
All that is really necessary for survival of the fittest, it seems, is an interest in life, good, bad or peculiar.
—Grace Paley
Topics: Curiosity
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Cynthia Ozick American Novelist, Essayist
Muriel Rukeyser American Poet
Joyce Carol Oates American Novelist
Carol Shields Canadian Author, Academic
Helen Gurley Brown American Publisher
Charlotte Perkins Gilman American Feminist, Writer
Carolyn Kizer American Poet
Sheryl Sandberg American Executive, Author
Mark Van Doren American Poet, Critic
Sylvia Plath American Poet, Novelist