TILLIE OLSEN
1913-2007
“I STAND HER IRONING”
O’CONNOR WAS BORN TO RUSSIAN JEWISH IMMIGRANTS IN NEBRASKA.
SHE DROPPED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL EVENTUALLY ENDING UP IN SAN FRANCISCO WHERE
SHE BECAME A SOCIALIST AND LATER A COMMUNIST.
WHEN SHE MARRIED IN 1936, SHE PUT ON HOLD HER FLEDGLING WRITING CAREER IN ORDER
TO BE A HOUSEWIFE AND MOTHER. SHE RAISED FOUR CHILDREN.
WHEN SHE RETURNED TO WRITING IN THE 1950’S, SHE SOON DEVELOPED A SMALL BUT
ENTHUSIASTIC GROUP OF FOLLWERS.
HER WORKS WON SEVERAL AWARDS.
“I STAND HERE IRONG” IS A MOTHER’S ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT
SHAPED HER ESTRANGED DAUGHTER’S CHARACTER.