Mark Anthony Jarman
Encyclopedia
Mark Anthony Jarman is a Canadian
fiction
writer.
He graduated from the Iowa Writers' Workshop
and is currently a faculty member of the English department at the University of New Brunswick
in Fredericton
. Previously, he has taught at the University of Victoria
.
Jarman has been a finalist for various literary prizes including the Journey Prize
.
and Italy
. Jarman’s natural interest in literature led him to pursue the craft of writing. Before becoming a teacher, Jarman worked as a truck driver and considered writing as a hobby. His personal interests include skiing
, cycling
, and hockey
. Jarman is also a musician and is part of a local blues band, Toredown.
as being a significant influence on his style. Jarman has stated that he prefers writing short stories
as he “find novels cumbersome”. Literature critic
Steven W. Beattie, on reviewing his short story collection My White Planet, stated that Jarman’s writing differentiates from the norm of classic Canadian literature
and focuses on “the delirious and courageous use of language to create startling effects”.
Jarman’s short stories have been known to explore a variety of different themes, including war
, crisis
and Canadian culture (notably hockey
). Beattie, reviewing one of the stories in the My White Planet collection, noted “A Nation Plays Chopsticks may be the finest explanation for Canadian’s love affair with [hockey] I’ve ever read”.
newspaper. Jarman’s writings have also earned him the O. Henry Award and Best American Essays, Gold National Magazine Award in nonfiction and have won the Maclean-Hunter Endowment Award twice. He has also won the Jack Hodgins Fiction Prize, and has been included in The Journey Prize Anthology
and Best Canadian Stories. Furthermore, Jarman’s Salvage King, Ya! is placed on Amazon Canada’s
50 Essential Canadian books.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
writer.
He graduated from the Iowa Writers' Workshop
Iowa Writers' Workshop
The Program in Creative Writing, more commonly known as the Iowa Writers' Workshop, at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, is a highly regarded graduate-level creative writing program in the United States...
and is currently a faculty member of the English department at the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
in Fredericton
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton is the capital of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, by virtue of the provincial parliament which sits there. An important cultural, artistic, and educational centre for the province, Fredericton is home to two universities and cultural institutions such as the Beaverbrook Art...
. Previously, he has taught at the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
.
Jarman has been a finalist for various literary prizes including the Journey Prize
Journey Prize
The Journey Prize is a Canadian literary award, presented annually by McClelland and Stewart and the Writers' Trust of Canada for the best short story published by an emerging writer in a Canadian literary magazine. The award was endowed by James A...
.
Personal life
Though native to Edmonton, Jarman has travelled extensively across the country and the world, visiting places such as Ireland, the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Italy
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Jarman’s natural interest in literature led him to pursue the craft of writing. Before becoming a teacher, Jarman worked as a truck driver and considered writing as a hobby. His personal interests include skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
, cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
, and hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
. Jarman is also a musician and is part of a local blues band, Toredown.
Style of writing
Jarman credits his style of writing to his experience at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and cites author Barry HannahBarry Hannah
Howard Barry Hannah was an American novelist and short story writer from Mississippi.The author of eight novels and five short story collections , Hannah worked with notable American editors and publishers such as Gordon Lish, Seymour Lawrence, and Morgan Entrekin...
as being a significant influence on his style. Jarman has stated that he prefers writing short stories
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
as he “find novels cumbersome”. Literature critic
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
Steven W. Beattie, on reviewing his short story collection My White Planet, stated that Jarman’s writing differentiates from the norm of classic Canadian literature
Canadian literature
Canadian literature is literature originating from Canada. Collectively it is often called CanLit. Some criticism of Canadian literature has focused on nationalistic and regional themes, although this is only a small portion of Canadian Literary criticism...
and focuses on “the delirious and courageous use of language to create startling effects”.
Jarman’s short stories have been known to explore a variety of different themes, including war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
, crisis
Crisis
A crisis is any event that is, or expected to lead to, an unstable and dangerous situation affecting an individual, group, community or whole society...
and Canadian culture (notably hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
). Beattie, reviewing one of the stories in the My White Planet collection, noted “A Nation Plays Chopsticks may be the finest explanation for Canadian’s love affair with [hockey] I’ve ever read”.
Notable works
Jarman’s books have been received positively, and have won and been nominated for various awards. One of his short story collections, 19 Knives, was met with acclaim and chosen as ‘book of the year’ by The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
newspaper. Jarman’s writings have also earned him the O. Henry Award and Best American Essays, Gold National Magazine Award in nonfiction and have won the Maclean-Hunter Endowment Award twice. He has also won the Jack Hodgins Fiction Prize, and has been included in The Journey Prize Anthology
Journey Prize
The Journey Prize is a Canadian literary award, presented annually by McClelland and Stewart and the Writers' Trust of Canada for the best short story published by an emerging writer in a Canadian literary magazine. The award was endowed by James A...
and Best Canadian Stories. Furthermore, Jarman’s Salvage King, Ya! is placed on Amazon Canada’s
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
50 Essential Canadian books.