- Joseph Coulson
Joseph Coulson (b. 1957) is an American
novelist ,poet , andplaywright . His writing is notable for its lyricism and its blending of history and social criticism.Early life
Joseph Coulson was born
April 26 1957 inDetroit ,Michigan . 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, flutist, and bass player with bands in and around Detroit.Career
Coulson received a B.S. in Education from
Wayne State University , an M.A. in English from theState 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 theGreat Books Foundation in Chicago.Coulson’s first novel, "The Vanishing Moon" (
Archipelago Books , 2004), was aBarnes & Noble Great New Writers selection, and it won the Book of the Year Award, Gold Medal in Literary Fiction, fromForeWord 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 withJohn Steinbeck ,William Maxwell , andRussell 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 byTheater Artists of Marin , enjoyed both popular and critical acclaim in the San Francisco Bay area. Coulson has also edited several volumes for theGreat Books Foundation , including "Modern American Poetry", "Citizens of the World: Readings in Human Rights", and "Reader’s Guide toThe Great Gatsby ".Bibliography
Poetry
* "The Letting Go", The Hundred Pound Press,1984
* "A Measured Silence", The Hundred Pound Press,1986
* "Graph", Bombshelter Press,1990Plays
* "A Saloon at the Edge of the World" (produced as Edge of the World, co-authored with
William Relling, Jr. , 1996)
* "Junkyard of the Gods" (co-authored withWilliam Relling, Jr. , 1999)Novels
* "The Vanishing Moon",
Archipelago Books , 2004; Harcourt/Harvest Paperback, 2005; also published in German and French translations
* "Of Song and Water",Archipelago Books , 2007External links
* [http://www.archipelagobooks.org/catalog/songwater/ Coulson on Archipelago Books website]
* [http://www.bombshelterpress.com/ Bombshelter Press]
* [http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/episodes/2004/01/27/ Interview Leonard Lopate on WNYC]
* [http://www.harcourtbooks.com/bookcatalogs/bookpage.asp?isbn=0156030187&option=reading / Harcourt Reading Guide for "The Vanishing Moon"]
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