Close To My Heart: An Autobiography

by Dorothy Sterling

This is the autobiography of a woman whose exceptional social conscience and actions are an example of the influence one person can have on society without being in a lofty political position. As a young woman, Dorothy Sterling's concern for working people in America led her to the Communist Party in the 1930s, a refuge for many with noble intentions. In the 1950s, her concern for the plight of African Americans led her to integrate her own community of Rye, New York. She went on to become one of the most prolific authors of works of African American History, first for young readers with books such as Mary Jane , the first book about a young black girl growing up in the South. Later works for adults were equally important and influential. Sterling's fascination and concern for the environment led her to write a wonderful natural history guide to Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Long Island, and the Islands in between. Still active at 90, her most recent triumph was to open her own road to oystermen, whose access to local salt flats had been denied by wealthy summer residents.

320 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2005

About the author

Dorothy Sterling (Dannenberg) was a Jewish-American writer and historian.

She was born and grew up in New York City, attended Wellesley College, and graduated from Barnard College in 1934. After college, she worked as a journalist and writer in New York for several years. In 1937, she married Philip Sterling, also a writer. In the 1940s, she worked for Life Magazine for 8 years. In early 1968, 448 writers and editors including Dorothy put a full-page ad in the New York Post declaring their intention to refuse to pay taxes for the Vietnam War.

Dorothy was the author of more than 30 books, mainly non-fiction historical works for children on the origins of the women's and anti-slavery movements, civil rights, segregation, and nature, as well as mysteries. She has won several awards for her writings, including the Carter G. Woodson Book Award from the National Council For The Social Studies For The Trouble They Seen: Black People Tell The Story Of Reconstruction, in 1976.