Carol Muske-dukes

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Carol Muske-Dukes stands as the visionary architect behind the University of Southern California’s esteemed graduate program in literature and creative writing. A guiding force in the world of poetry, she imparts her wisdom to aspiring poets at USC. Her incisive literary critiques grace the pages of the New York Times Book Review and the Los Angeles Times Book Review, where she pens a captivating column, "Poets Corner." Renowned for her eloquent verse, Muske-Dukes has crafted numerous works of both fiction and nonfiction, earning accolades for her poetic masterpieces.

Born on December 17, 1945, in the heart of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Muske-Dukes embarked on her academic journey at Creighton University. There, she earned her bachelor's degree in English in 1967. She then pursued further academic excellence, completing a master's degree in English and creative writing three years later at San Francisco State University. Her literary odyssey continued at several prestigious institutions, including the New School for Social Research, Columbia University, and New York University. As an educator, she has enlightened minds at the University of Virginia, the University of Iowa, and the University of California, Irvine.

Literary Contributions

Her poetic repertoire includes Sparrow (2003), where the poignant "Our Side" finds its home, alongside collections like An Octave above Thunder: New and Selected Poems (1997), Red Trousseau (1993), Applause (1989), Skylight (1981), and Camouflage (1975). In the realm of essays, her works include Women and Poetry: Truth, Autobiography and the Shape of the Self (1997) and the evocative Married to the Icepick Killer: A Poet in Hollywood (2002). Her fictional narratives unfold in novels such as Life after Death: A Novel (2001), Saving St. Germ (1993), and Dear Digby (1989).

Accolades and Personal Life

A recipient of countless honors, Muske-Dukes received the prestigious Chapin Award from Columbia University for her work Sparrow, which also became a finalist for the National Book Award. Her insightful collection Married to the Icepick Killer earned the distinction of "Best Book of 2002" by the San Francisco Chronicle. Muske-Dukes shares her life with her daughter and cherishes the memory of her late husband, the actor David Dukes, to whom Sparrow is lovingly dedicated.

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