An American Childhood

By: Annie Dillard

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

A book that instantly captured the hearts of readers across the country, An American Childhood is Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annie Dillard’s poignant, vivid memoir of growing up in Pittsburgh in the 1950s.

Much of the book focuses on her parents and some of her intellectual pursuits. Her mother was a non-conformist; her father taught her about plumbing and economics, and shared his enthusiasm for the novel On The Road. Annie took piano and dance classes, went rock and bug collecting, and loved books, especially about World War II.

©1987 Annie Dillard (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“With… An American Childhood… Dillard helped usher in the age of memoirs… [and] defined a literary genre.” ( Washington Post)

“A remarkable work… An exceptionally interesting account.” ( New York Times)

“A vivid and thoughtful evocation of particular personal experiences that have an exuberantly timeless appeal.” ( Chicago Sun-Times)

Loved this memoir!

I love memoirs, in general. This one stands out because of the excellent writing style. I enjoyed learning about Annie's childhood memories, her unique family, her sibling rivalry, and her emotional ups and downs. Great story!

Overblown narration

Dillard is a superlative reader but narration is awful; narrator sounds like a teacher reading to squirmy toddlers. It's a shame, as the book, which I plan to buy, is a gem.

Beautiful prose and fascinating life

I love Annie Dillard’s writing and it was fascinating to learn of her growing up. The Pittsburgh history lesson from an insider was informative.

brought me back in time

I met a kindred spirit on this book and re-examined life through the spirited, imaginative eyes of a child. Delightful, thoughtful, soulful.

Coming alive to consciousness

Is able to create a present tense for events that took place long ago, in the different person that was herself (all of ourselves) as a child. Truly lovely.