Tan, Amy (1952-)

Amy Tan was born in Oakland, California, on February 19, 1952, to parents John and Daisy Tan, who had come to America from China only years earlier. When she was 15, her father and brother both died of brain tumors and her mother moved the family to Montreux, Switzerland, where Tan attended high school. Upon graduation in 1969, Tan returned with her family to the United States, living in the San Francisco area.

Against her mother's wishes, Amy went to San Jose City College and transferred to San Jose State because she wanted to be closer to her boyfriend, Louis DeMattei. Amy received her bachelor's degree in English and linguistics in 1972 and her M.A. in linguistics in 1973, both from San Jose State. She worked ...