Writer

Work and education

The writer of the introduction to the book Hillbilly Elegy. A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis is the book’s author, J.D. Vance. At the time the book was published, J.D. Vance was very little-known to the public as he had not written anything else before and he was working as a venture capitalist. Since the book is mainly based on his experience of growing in a poor working-class environment, he uses the introduction to give readers more details about himself.

The text is filled with biographical information about the author which is relevant for the arguments he makes in the book. For example, J.D. Vance tells readers his age and that he has no special achievements: “…I’m thirty-one years old, and I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve accomplished nothing great in my life…” (ll. 2-3). In this way, he tries to gain his readers’ sympathy by coming across as simple, honest, and approachable. This is also why he mentions his family: “I have a nice job, a happy marriage, a comfortable home, and two lively dogs.” (l.9)

However, he does mention graduating from Yale: “The coolest thing I’ve done, at least on paper, is graduate from Yale Law School…” (ll. 4-5). Graduating from a top university in the US is considered a significant achievement and gives Vance more intellectual authority.

Nevertheless, Vance does not brag about his graduation and continues to present himself with ...