Ardizzone, Heidi

views updated

ARDIZZONE, Heidi

PERSONAL:

Female. Education: Cornell University, B.A.; University of Michigan, M.A., Ph.D. (American studies), 1997.

ADDRESSES:

Office—University of Notre Dame, 326 Decio Faculty Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556. E-mail—ardizzone.1@nd.edu.

CAREER:

State University of New York, Plattsburgh, NY, taught women's studies; University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, visiting assistant professor of American studies.

WRITINGS:

(With Earl Lewis) Love on Trial: An American Scandal in Black and White, Norton (New York, NY), 2001.

SIDELIGHTS:

Heidi Ardizzone is a visiting assistant professor of American studies at the University of Notre Dame. She received her B.A. from Cornell University and went on to achieve her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. It was while receiving her doctorate at the University of Michigan that she became acquainted with Earl Lewis, Dean of Graduate Studies. They began to work collaboratively researching a 1920s trial that would become the topic of their book Love on Trial: An American Scandal in Black and White. It is the true account of rich and privileged Kip Rhinelander and his working-class, mixed-race wife Alice Jones. The two courted for three years before marrying, whereupon Rhinelander's father forced an annulment and a legal battle ensued. Jones's father was of a questionable race and the annulment papers claimed Rhinelander had not been made aware of this. The court battle stirred up questions about what exactly defines race. The work was first published as a scholarly article, but was expanded into a book.

Love on Trial was well-received and praised for its compelling story and in depth look at racial issues, though often criticized for its style. Elaine Machleder of Library Journal found it an "intriguing story," but thought that "the text is repetitive or bloated with conjecture, dragging out the undoubtedly painful scandal." A reviewer for Publishers Weekly claimed Ardizzone and Lewis are "not graceful writers," but they "cleverly build their narrative … careful not to foreshadow the verdict," which results in a "dense but fascinating volume." Kate Tuttle wrote in her review in Africana that the book has an "irresistible story," but that "readers may find themselves wishing the lead characters were brought more fully to life, or that some of the professorly digressions had been cut shorter." Vanessa Bush of Booklist stated, "While astutely analyzing Jazz Age sensibilities, Lewis and Ardizzone relate them to today's racial and social climate, with its growing numbers of mixed-race marriages and children. Absorbing reading for those interested in social and racial issues."