This Goodly Land

Anne George (December 4, 1927–March 14, 2001)

Other Names Used

• Anne Carroll Bell: birth name

Alabama Connections

• Montgomery, Montgomery County: birthplace, early childhood residence
• Calhoun, Lowndes County: childhood residence
• Marion, Perry County: education
• Birmingham, Jefferson County: education, adult residence

Selected Works

• George, Anne. Some of It Is True: Poems. Carollton, Ga.: Curbow Publications, 1993.
• George, Anne. Murder on a Girls' Night Out. New York: Avon Books, 1996.
• George, Anne. This One and Magic Life. New York: Avon Books, 1999.
• George, Anne. The Map That Lies Between Us: New and Collected Poems, 1980-2000. Montgomery: Black Belt Press, 2000.

Literary Awards

• Agatha Award, Best First Novel, Malice Domestic, Ltd., Annual Convention, 1996, for Murder on a Girls’ Night Out

Biographical Information

Anne George was born and spent her early childhood in Montgomery, Ala. Her parents separated shortly after her birth, and she was raised by her grandparents, although she had frequent contact with her mother. Magazine reading was popular in her grandparents' household, and George was especially fond of detective magazines. When she was eight, economic circumstances forced them to move their household to a farm in Lowndes County, Ala., which was owned by her stepfather’s family. One consequence of the move was that she took the train to school every day. Another was that she was placed in fifth grade at the age of eight and initially had trouble fitting in. She soon made friends, however, and became something of a prankster. George attended Judson College, then graduated from Samford University in 1949 with a BA in English and Spanish.

After marrying, George moved to Birmingham and taught English in area junior high and high schools for well over twenty years. She earned an MA in English and Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1971. In 1982, while working on a doctorate, George and fellow student Jerri Beck founded Druid Press to publish literary works. They sold the press after ten years when George began writing full-time. The Southern Sisters mystery series began as a short story George wrote in which the main characters were based on herself and a cousin. The first book in the series, Murder on a Girls' Night Out, was accepted for publication less than a week after she sent it to her agent. She eventually published seven books in the series.

Interests and Themes

Anne George's Southern Sisters mysteries, some set in Birmingham, are full of humor and local color. They feature middle-aged sleuths with strong family ties. Her poems also have a local flavor and are frequently on domestic subjects.

For More Information

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Location of Papers

• Auburn University

Photo courtesy of the Alabama Writers' Forum.

Last updated on May 30, 2008.