Clarissa Allen
Clarissa Minnie Thompson Allen | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of educator Clarissa M. Thompson, ca. 1872 | |
| Born | Clarissa Minnie Thompson October 1, 1859[1] Columbia, South Carolina, United States |
| Died | November 23, 1941 (aged 82)[1] Milam, Texas |
| Occupation | Educator author |
| Language | English |
| Education | Howard Junior High School |
Clarissa Minnie Thompson Allen (October 1, 1859 – November 23, 1941) was an American educator and author. She wrote fictional stories about wealthy African-American families in the
Personal life
Clarissa Minnie Thompson was born in
Career
Allen wrote fiction based around true stories about wealthy African-American families in the Southern United States. Her most notable work was Treading the Winepress, also called A Mountain of Misfortune. The book consisted of 41 stories about two families. The stories took place in "Capitolia," which was based on Columbia, South Carolina. The book includes love triangles and murder, as well as themes of womanhood, charity, and madness.[2] It was a serialized publication[3] and believed to be the first novel by an African-American woman from South Carolina.[4] She also wrote novelettes for Texas-based publications. Her poetry was also published in African American newspapers.[3] Some reviewers believed that her work was anti-religious, specifically towards the African Methodist Episcopal Church.[2]
Further reading
- Shockley, Ann Allen. "Clarissa Minnie Thompson." Afro-American Women Writers. 1746–1933: An Anthology and Critical Guide. Boston: G.K. Hall (1988).
- Wallace-Sanders, Kimberly. "Clarissa Minnie Thompson." Oxford Companion to African American Literature. New York: Oxford University Press (1997).
References
- ^ a b Texas, Death Certificates, 1903–1982
- ^ ISBN 978-0-313-33429-0. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-313-02462-7. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
- ISBN 9781891885358