Marshall, Paule Burke (1929–)
Marshall, Paule Burke (1929–)
African-American novelist and short-story writer. Born Paule Burke, April 9, 1929, in Brooklyn, NY; dau. of Samuel and Ada Burke (both immigrants from Barbados); Brooklyn College, BA, 1953; attended Hunter College; m. Kenneth E. Marshall, 1957 (div. 1963); m. Nourry Menard (Haitian businessman), 1970; children: (1st m.) Eran-Keith.
Began career on Our World magazine (1955); published autobiographical 1st novel, Brown Girls, Brownstones (1959) to good reviews; other works include a collection of novellas, Soul Clap Hands and Sing (1961), the novels The Chosen Place, the Timeless People (1969) and Praisesong for the Widow (1983), as well as Reena and Other Stories (1983) and Daughters (1991); became distinguished chair in creative writing at New York University.