John Olson (poet and writer)
Encyclopedia
John Olson is an American poet and novelist. Born August 23, 1947 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
, Olson has lived for many years in Seattle, Washington
. He has published eight collections of poetry and two novels, including Souls of Wind, nominated for the 2008 Believer Book Award
. In 2004, Seattle’s weekly newspaper, The Stranger
, for whom he has written occasional essays, gave Olson one of its annual "genius awards." His writing notebooks have been exhibited at the University of Washington
. Olson's prose poetry
has been reviewed in print and online poetry magazines. The poet Philip Lamantia
said that Olson was "extraordinary...the greatest prose poetry [i've] ever read." and Clayton Eshleman
said "he is writing the most outlandish, strange, and inventive prose poetry ever in the history of the prose poem."
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, Olson has lived for many years in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. He has published eight collections of poetry and two novels, including Souls of Wind, nominated for the 2008 Believer Book Award
Believer Book Award
Believer Book Award is an American literary award presented yearly by The Believer magazine to novels and story collections the magazine's editors thought were the "strongest and most under-appreciated" of the year. A shortlist and longlist are announced, along with reader's favorites, then a final...
. In 2004, Seattle’s weekly newspaper, The Stranger
The Stranger (newspaper)
The Stranger is an alternative weekly newspaper in Seattle, Washington, USA. It runs a blog known as Slog.-History:The Stranger was founded by Tim Keck, who had previously co-founded the satirical newspaper The Onion, and cartoonist James Sturm. Its first issue came out on September 23, 1991...
, for whom he has written occasional essays, gave Olson one of its annual "genius awards." His writing notebooks have been exhibited at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
. Olson's prose poetry
Prose poetry
Prose poetry is poetry written in prose instead of using verse but preserving poetic qualities such as heightened imagery and emotional effects.-Characteristics:Prose poetry can be considered either primarily poetry or prose, or a separate genre altogether...
has been reviewed in print and online poetry magazines. The poet Philip Lamantia
Philip Lamantia
Philip Lamantia was an American poet and lecturer. Lamantia's visionary poems were ecstatic, terror-filled, and erotic which explored the subconscious world of dreams and linked it to the experience of daily life.-Biography:...
said that Olson was "extraordinary...the greatest prose poetry [i've] ever read." and Clayton Eshleman
Clayton Eshleman
Clayton Eshleman is an American poet, translator, and editor.-Life:Eshleman has been translating since the early 1960s. He is the recipient of the National Book Award in 1979 for his co-translation of César Vallejo's Complete Posthumous Poetry...
said "he is writing the most outlandish, strange, and inventive prose poetry ever in the history of the prose poem."