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Virginia Sorensen was born to Helen ElDiva Blackett and Claud E. Eggertsen in [[Provo, Utah]], but grew up in [[Manti, Utah|Manti]] and [[American Fork, Utah|American Fork]], [[Utah]].<ref name="utah">[http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/s/SORENSEN,VIRGINIA.html Utah History Encyclopedia]</ref> Her mother identified as a Christian Scientist, and her father was described as a "[[jack Mormon]]." Sorensen wrote from a liminal position between Mormon and mainstream western American life.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt4cgpjz|title=Worth Their Salt Too|date=2009-10-30|publisher=Utah State University Press|isbn=978-0-87421-766-7|editor-last=Whitley|editor-first=Colleen}}</ref> Of this circumstance, Sorensen said of her siblings and herself, “we all felt obliged to be especially good and bright because our parents weren’t active church people” <ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hoipkins|first=Lee Bennett|date=1974|title=Virginia Sorensen...|url=|journal=More books by more people|volume=1974|pages=323-329|via=}}</ref>
Virginia Sorensen was born to Helen ElDiva Blackett and Claud E. Eggertsen in [[Provo, Utah]], but grew up in [[Manti, Utah|Manti]] and [[American Fork, Utah|American Fork]], [[Utah]].<ref name="utah">[http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/s/SORENSEN,VIRGINIA.html Utah History Encyclopedia]</ref> Her mother identified as a Christian Scientist, and her father was described as a "[[jack Mormon]]." Sorensen wrote from a liminal position between Mormon and mainstream western American life.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt4cgpjz|title=Worth Their Salt Too|date=2009-10-30|publisher=Utah State University Press|isbn=978-0-87421-766-7|editor-last=Whitley|editor-first=Colleen}}</ref> Of this circumstance, Sorensen said of her siblings and herself, “we all felt obliged to be especially good and bright because our parents weren’t active church people” <ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hoipkins|first=Lee Bennett|date=1974|title=Virginia Sorensen...|url=|journal=More books by more people|volume=1974|pages=323-329|via=}}</ref>


Sorensen attended [[Brigham Young University]], where she met her first husband, Frederick C. Sorensen, who was teaching English at a local high school. <ref>{{Cite book|last=Sorensen|first=Virginia|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/37910192|title=A Little Lower Than the Angels|date=1997|publisher=Signature Books|year=1997|isbn=1-56085-103-1|location=Salt Lake City|pages=v-xx|oclc=37910192}}</ref> She graduated from BYU with a bachelor's degree in journalism.<ref name="Sunstone" /> The couple then moved several times throughout their 25 years of marriage for Frederick's work. While living in [[Terre Haute, Indiana]], where Frederick was a professor at what is now [[Indiana State University]], Sorensen published her first novel, ''A Little Lower Than the Angels.'' Her publisher, [[Alfred A. Knopf, Sr.|Alfred Knopf]], inscribed in his copy of the book, "I have seldom introduced a new novelist with the confidence I feel in the author of this remarkable book. It marks the debut, I believe, of a major American writer."<ref name="Sunstone">[https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/087-15-17.pdf In Memoriam], ''[[Sunstone Magazine]]'', accessed April 26, 2012</ref>
Sorensen attended [[Brigham Young University]], where she met her first husband, Frederick C. Sorensen, who was teaching English at a local high school. <ref>{{Cite book|last=Sorensen|first=Virginia|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/37910192|title=A Little Lower Than the Angels|date=1997|publisher=Signature Books|year=1997|isbn=1-56085-103-1|location=Salt Lake City|pages=v-xx|oclc=37910192}}</ref> She graduated from BYU with a bachelor's degree in journalism.<ref name="Sunstone" /> The couple then moved several times throughout their 25 years of marriage for Frederick's work. While living in [[Terre Haute, Indiana]], where Frederick was a professor at what is now [[Indiana State University]], Sorensen published her first novel, ''A Little Lower Than the Angels.'' Her publisher, [[Alfred A. Knopf, Sr.|Alfred Knopf]], wrote in the book jacket, "I have seldom introduced a new novelist with the confidence I feel in the author of this remarkable book. It marks the debut, I believe, of a major American writer."<ref name="Sunstone">[https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/087-15-17.pdf In Memoriam], ''[[Sunstone Magazine]]'', accessed April 26, 2012</ref>


Sorensen has several [[LDS fiction#The "lost" generation, 1930–1970|Mormon-themed]] books.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ldsfilm.com/writers/Virginia_Sorensen.html |title= Virginia Sorensen, Mormon Novelist |publisher= Ldsfilm.com |date= |accessdate= 2010-07-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bookrags.com/biography/virginia-sorensen-dlb/ |title=Virginia Sorensen Biography &#124; Dictionary of Literary Biography Biography |publisher=Bookrags.com |date=1912-02-17 |accessdate=2010-07-05}}</ref><ref name="Britannica">{{cite web|url=http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/article-9336912/Virginia-Sorensen |title=Virginia Sorensen - Kids Encyclopedia &#124; Online Encyclopedia &#124; Kids Online Dictionary &#124; Britannica |publisher=Kids.britannica.com |date=1912-02-17 |accessdate=2012-04-26}}</ref> Despite this, Sorensen said of herself, "As a writer and as a person, I can honestly say that I am not particularly interested in Mormons.”<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Sorensen|first=Virginia|date=1953|title=Is it true?--The novelist and his materials.|url=|journal=Utah Humanities Review|volume=7|pages=283-292|via=}}</ref> As a regionalist author, she primarily drew inspiration from the places where she was living.<ref name=":1" /> Her first book for children, ''Curious Missy'', grew out of her efforts with a [[bookmobile]] in [[Alabama]]<ref name="utah" />, and her 1957 John [[Newbery Medal]]-winning ''[[Miracles on Maple Hill]]'' was based in the [[Erie, Pennsylvania]] region where she lived at the time.<ref name=":0">[http://eriehalloffame.com/nominees/Sorensen.asp Erie Hall of Fame] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707121133/http://eriehalloffame.com/nominees/Sorensen.asp |date=2013-07-07 }}, accessed April 26, 2012</ref> She received two [[Guggenheim fellowships]], one in 1946 to study a tribe of Mexican Indians for her novel ''The Proper Gods'', and one in 1954 to study in Denmark as regards the history of [[Sanpete Valley]]'s settlers.<ref name="Britannica" /> Her collection of short stories, ''Where Nothing is Long Ago,'' was described by [[Eugene England]] as "essentially a collection of personal essays rather than short stories," but Sorenson reaffirmed that the collection is fictional.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Geary|first=Edward A.|date=1990|title=A 'visitable past' Virginia Sorensen's Sanpete.|url=|journal=Utah historical quarterly|volume=58|pages=216-231|via=issu}}</ref>
Sorensen has several [[LDS fiction#The "lost" generation, 1930–1970|Mormon-themed]] books.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ldsfilm.com/writers/Virginia_Sorensen.html |title= Virginia Sorensen, Mormon Novelist |publisher= Ldsfilm.com |date= |accessdate= 2010-07-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bookrags.com/biography/virginia-sorensen-dlb/ |title=Virginia Sorensen Biography &#124; Dictionary of Literary Biography Biography |publisher=Bookrags.com |date=1912-02-17 |accessdate=2010-07-05}}</ref><ref name="Britannica">{{cite web|url=http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/article-9336912/Virginia-Sorensen |title=Virginia Sorensen - Kids Encyclopedia &#124; Online Encyclopedia &#124; Kids Online Dictionary &#124; Britannica |publisher=Kids.britannica.com |date=1912-02-17 |accessdate=2012-04-26}}</ref> Despite this, Sorensen said of herself, "As a writer and as a person, I can honestly say that I am not particularly interested in Mormons.”<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Sorensen|first=Virginia|date=1953|title=Is it true?--The novelist and his materials.|url=|journal=Utah Humanities Review|volume=7|pages=283-292|via=}}</ref> As a regionalist author, she primarily drew inspiration from the places where she was living.<ref name=":1" /> Her first book for children, ''Curious Missy'', grew out of her efforts with a [[bookmobile]] in [[Alabama]]<ref name="utah" />, and her 1957 John [[Newbery Medal]]-winning ''[[Miracles on Maple Hill]]'' was based in the [[Erie, Pennsylvania]] region where she lived at the time.<ref name=":0">[http://eriehalloffame.com/nominees/Sorensen.asp Erie Hall of Fame] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707121133/http://eriehalloffame.com/nominees/Sorensen.asp |date=2013-07-07 }}, accessed April 26, 2012</ref> She received two [[Guggenheim fellowships]], one in 1946 to study a tribe of Mexican Indians for her novel ''The Proper Gods'', and one in 1954 to study in Denmark as regards the history of [[Sanpete Valley]]'s settlers.<ref name="Britannica" /> Her collection of short stories, ''Where Nothing is Long Ago,'' was described by [[Eugene England]] as "essentially a collection of personal essays rather than short stories," but Sorenson reaffirmed that the collection is fictional.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Geary|first=Edward A.|date=1990|title=A 'visitable past' Virginia Sorensen's Sanpete.|url=|journal=Utah historical quarterly|volume=58|pages=216-231|via=issu}}</ref>

Revision as of 19:18, 19 October 2020

Virginia Sorensen
BornVirginia Louise Eggertsen
February 17, 1912
DiedDecember 24, 1991
Alma materBrigham Young University
Years active1942-1978
Notable awards1957 Newberry Medal
SpouseFrederick C. Sorensen
Alec Waugh

Virginia Sorensen (née Eggertsen), also credited as Virginia Sorenson (February 17, 1912–December 24, 1991), was an American regionalist writer. Her role in Utah and Mormon literature places her within the "lost generation" of Mormon writers. She was awarded the 1957 Newberry Medal for her children's novel, Miracles on Maple Hill.[1]

Biography

Virginia Sorensen was born to Helen ElDiva Blackett and Claud E. Eggertsen in Provo, Utah, but grew up in Manti and American Fork, Utah.[2] Her mother identified as a Christian Scientist, and her father was described as a "jack Mormon." Sorensen wrote from a liminal position between Mormon and mainstream western American life.[3] Of this circumstance, Sorensen said of her siblings and herself, “we all felt obliged to be especially good and bright because our parents weren’t active church people” [4]

Sorensen attended Brigham Young University, where she met her first husband, Frederick C. Sorensen, who was teaching English at a local high school. [5] She graduated from BYU with a bachelor's degree in journalism.[6] The couple then moved several times throughout their 25 years of marriage for Frederick's work. While living in Terre Haute, Indiana, where Frederick was a professor at what is now Indiana State University, Sorensen published her first novel, A Little Lower Than the Angels. Her publisher, Alfred Knopf, wrote in the book jacket, "I have seldom introduced a new novelist with the confidence I feel in the author of this remarkable book. It marks the debut, I believe, of a major American writer."[6]

Sorensen has several Mormon-themed books.[7][8][9] Despite this, Sorensen said of herself, "As a writer and as a person, I can honestly say that I am not particularly interested in Mormons.”[10] As a regionalist author, she primarily drew inspiration from the places where she was living.[10] Her first book for children, Curious Missy, grew out of her efforts with a bookmobile in Alabama[2], and her 1957 John Newbery Medal-winning Miracles on Maple Hill was based in the Erie, Pennsylvania region where she lived at the time.[1] She received two Guggenheim fellowships, one in 1946 to study a tribe of Mexican Indians for her novel The Proper Gods, and one in 1954 to study in Denmark as regards the history of Sanpete Valley's settlers.[9] Her collection of short stories, Where Nothing is Long Ago, was described by Eugene England as "essentially a collection of personal essays rather than short stories," but Sorenson reaffirmed that the collection is fictional.[11]

Sorensen later divorced Frederick and in 1969 married author Alec Waugh at the rock of Gibraltar. After her second marriage, Sorensen and Waugh resided primarily in Morocco.

Bibliography

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Erie Hall of Fame Archived 2013-07-07 at the Wayback Machine, accessed April 26, 2012
  2. ^ a b Utah History Encyclopedia
  3. ^ Whitley, Colleen, ed. (2009-10-30). Worth Their Salt Too. Utah State University Press. ISBN 978-0-87421-766-7.
  4. ^ Hoipkins, Lee Bennett (1974). "Virginia Sorensen...". More books by more people. 1974: 323–329.
  5. ^ Sorensen, Virginia (1997). A Little Lower Than the Angels. Salt Lake City: Signature Books. pp. v–xx. ISBN 1-56085-103-1. OCLC 37910192.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. ^ a b In Memoriam, Sunstone Magazine, accessed April 26, 2012
  7. ^ "Virginia Sorensen, Mormon Novelist". Ldsfilm.com. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
  8. ^ "Virginia Sorensen Biography | Dictionary of Literary Biography Biography". Bookrags.com. 1912-02-17. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
  9. ^ a b "Virginia Sorensen - Kids Encyclopedia | Online Encyclopedia | Kids Online Dictionary | Britannica". Kids.britannica.com. 1912-02-17. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
  10. ^ a b Sorensen, Virginia (1953). "Is it true?--The novelist and his materials". Utah Humanities Review. 7: 283–292.
  11. ^ Geary, Edward A. (1990). "A 'visitable past' Virginia Sorensen's Sanpete". Utah historical quarterly. 58: 216–231 – via issu.
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