Joseph Coulson
Encyclopedia
Joseph Coulson is an American novelist, poet
, and playwright
. His writing is notable for its lyricism and its blending of history and social criticism.
. As a youth, he attended both Catholic and public schools and worked as a caddie, grass cutter, janitor, and hospital orderly. He eventually found work as a singer, flautist, and bass player with bands in and around Detroit.
Coulson received a B.S. in Education from Wayne State University
, an M.A. in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and a Ph.D. in American Literature and Poetics from the State University of New York at Buffalo. For many years, he worked as an instructor and professor, teaching literature, philosophy, and composition to high school and college students. From 1999-2003, he served as Editorial Director and Senior Editor for the Great Books Foundation
in Chicago. Dr. Coulson currently works at Gann Academy in Waltham.
Coulson’s first novel, The Vanishing Moon (Archipelago Books
, 2004), was a Barnes & Noble
Great New Writers selection, and it won the Book of the Year Award, Gold Medal in Literary Fiction, from ForeWord Magazine. Chronicling the lives of working-class people, The Vanishing Moon was a critical success, and Coulson’s prose, themes, and historical range drew comparisons with John Steinbeck
, William Maxwell
, and Russell Banks
. Before turning to fiction, Coulson published three books of poetry, The Letting Go (1984), A Measured Silence (1986), and Graph (1990). His first play, A Saloon at the Edge of the World (1996), a noir drama showcased by Theater Artists of Marin, enjoyed both popular and critical acclaim in the San Francisco Bay area. Coulson has also edited several volumes for the Great Books Foundation
, including Modern American Poetry, Citizens of the World: Readings in Human Rights, and Reader’s Guide to The Great Gatsby
.
Coulson is currently living in Cambridge, Massachusetts with his wife, Harvard Psychology Professor Christine Hooker. He works at Gann Academy
in Waltham, MA as a High School English Teacher.
External links
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, and playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
. His writing is notable for its lyricism and its blending of history and social criticism.
Life and work
Joseph Coulson was born April 26, 1957 in Detroit, MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. As a youth, he attended both Catholic and public schools and worked as a caddie, grass cutter, janitor, and hospital orderly. He eventually found work as a singer, flautist, and bass player with bands in and around Detroit.
Coulson received a B.S. in Education from Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
, an M.A. in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and a Ph.D. in American Literature and Poetics from the State University of New York at Buffalo. For many years, he worked as an instructor and professor, teaching literature, philosophy, and composition to high school and college students. From 1999-2003, he served as Editorial Director and Senior Editor for the Great Books Foundation
Great Books Foundation
The Great Books Foundation, incorporated in the state of Illinois and based in Chicago, is an independent, nonprofit educational organization whose mission is to help people think and share ideas. Toward this end, the Foundation publishes collections of classic and modern literature as part of a...
in Chicago. Dr. Coulson currently works at Gann Academy in Waltham.
Coulson’s first novel, The Vanishing Moon (Archipelago Books
Archipelago Books
Archipelago Books is an American not-for-profit literary publisher dedicated to promoting cross-cultural exchange through international literature in translation. Located Brooklyn, New York, it publishes small to mid-size runs of international fiction, poetry, and literary essays...
, 2004), was a Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered at 122 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District in Manhattan in New York City. Barnes & Noble also operated the chain of small B. Dalton...
Great New Writers selection, and it won the Book of the Year Award, Gold Medal in Literary Fiction, from ForeWord Magazine. Chronicling the lives of working-class people, The Vanishing Moon was a critical success, and Coulson’s prose, themes, and historical range drew comparisons with John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck
John Ernst Steinbeck, Jr. was an American writer. He is widely known for the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden and the novella Of Mice and Men...
, William Maxwell
William Maxwell
William Maxwell may refer to:*William Maxwell , Irish-born American soldier from New Jersey in the American Revolutionary War*General Sir William Maxwell, 7th Baronet of Calderwood...
, and Russell Banks
Russell Banks
Russell Banks is an American writer of fiction and poetry.- Biography :Russell Banks was born in Newton, Massachusetts on March 28, 1940. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He lives in upstate New York, and has been named a New York State Author. He is also...
. Before turning to fiction, Coulson published three books of poetry, The Letting Go (1984), A Measured Silence (1986), and Graph (1990). His first play, A Saloon at the Edge of the World (1996), a noir drama showcased by Theater Artists of Marin, enjoyed both popular and critical acclaim in the San Francisco Bay area. Coulson has also edited several volumes for the Great Books Foundation
Great Books Foundation
The Great Books Foundation, incorporated in the state of Illinois and based in Chicago, is an independent, nonprofit educational organization whose mission is to help people think and share ideas. Toward this end, the Foundation publishes collections of classic and modern literature as part of a...
, including Modern American Poetry, Citizens of the World: Readings in Human Rights, and Reader’s Guide to The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby is a novel by the American author F. Scott Fitzgerald. First published in1925, it is set on Long Island's North Shore and in New York City from spring to autumn of 1922....
.
Coulson is currently living in Cambridge, Massachusetts with his wife, Harvard Psychology Professor Christine Hooker. He works at Gann Academy
Gann Academy
Gann Academy is an independent pluralistic Jewish high school located in Waltham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1997 as The New Jewish High School of Greater Boston, the school changed names in 2003 in honor of philanthropist Joseph Gann who donated $5,000,000 to the school...
in Waltham, MA as a High School English Teacher.
Poetry
- The Letting Go, The Hundred Pound Press,1984
- A Measured Silence, The Hundred Pound Press,1986
- Graph, Bombshelter Press,1990
Plays
- A Saloon at the Edge of the World (produced as Edge of the World, co-authored with William Relling, Jr.William Relling, Jr.William Edward Relling Jr. was an St. Louis born horror/mystery writer. Graduated from Lutheran High School North in 1971. Was a member of the Colin Sphinctor Band. Moved to Los Angels in 1978 with the Band. When the band broke up, Relling chose to stay in Los Angels but continued writing. He...
, 1996) - Junkyard of the Gods (co-authored with William Relling, Jr.William Relling, Jr.William Edward Relling Jr. was an St. Louis born horror/mystery writer. Graduated from Lutheran High School North in 1971. Was a member of the Colin Sphinctor Band. Moved to Los Angels in 1978 with the Band. When the band broke up, Relling chose to stay in Los Angels but continued writing. He...
, 1999)
Novels
- The Vanishing Moon, Archipelago BooksArchipelago BooksArchipelago Books is an American not-for-profit literary publisher dedicated to promoting cross-cultural exchange through international literature in translation. Located Brooklyn, New York, it publishes small to mid-size runs of international fiction, poetry, and literary essays...
, 20042004 in literatureThe year 2004 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* Canada Reads selects Guy Vanderhaeghe's The Last Crossing to be read across the nation....
; Harcourt/Harvest Paperback, 20052005 in literatureThe year 2005 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*February 25 - Canada Reads selects Rockbound by Frank Parker Day as the novel to be read across the nation....
; also published in German and French translations - Of Song and Water, Archipelago BooksArchipelago BooksArchipelago Books is an American not-for-profit literary publisher dedicated to promoting cross-cultural exchange through international literature in translation. Located Brooklyn, New York, it publishes small to mid-size runs of international fiction, poetry, and literary essays...
, 20072007 in literatureThe year 2007 in literature involves some significant new books.-Events:*November 19 - First Kindle e-book reader released.*December 11 - Terry Pratchett informs fans on-line that he has been diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer's disease.-Literature:...
External links
- Coulson on Archipelago Books website
- Bombshelter Press
- Interview Leonard Lopate on WNYC
- / Harcourt Reading Guide for The Vanishing Moon