Authorial+Background

Barbara Kingsolver was born in 1955 in Annapolis, Maryland, but spent most of her childhood in rural Kentucky. She loved taking adventures, whether in real life or books. She and her siblings frequently roamed the woods around her home, simply exploring the sights and sounds of nature, but she also loved to stay indoors to read books or write in her journal. She has lived in many different places during her life, including the Republic of Congo, France, and the Spanish Canary Islands. She holds degrees in biology from DePauw University and the University of Arizona. Barbara worked for many years in scientific research to earn a living, but she really loved writing. She struck out on her own as a freelance writer in 1985 and has since published numerous award-winning novels, short-stories, and various literary anthologies. Her works include //Pigs in Heaven// (1993), //The Poisonwood Bible// (1998), and //The Lacuna// (2009). //The Bean Trees// was her very first novel, published in 1988. The story draws on some of her experiences as a young woman in both Kentucky and Arizona. Kingsolver lives in Virginia with her husband Steven Hopp, and has two daughters – Camille and Lily.

Kingsolver, Barbara. "Barbara Kingsolver Revealed." Barbara Kingsolver | The Authorized Site. 2010. Web. 16 Mar. 2011. .