George Stanley (poet)

George Stanley-Canadian poet associated with the San Francisco Renaissance in his early years and later a resident of British Columbia.

He has published several books of poetry. One of his best-known poems is "Veracruz". In 2006 he won the Shelley Memorial Award.

Stanley considers T. S. Eliot, Robert Lowell, and Charles Olson important influences on his poetry.^[1]

Life

Born and raised in San Francisco, Stanley was part of the San Francisco Renaissance, which also included Jack Spicer, Robert Duncan and Robin Blaser.

He received his bachelor's degree from San Francisco State University in 1969, and a master's degree in 1971.^[1]

In the 1970s, Stanley moved to British Columbia, first living in Vancouver for five years, then Terrace in northern British Columbia, where he worked as an instructor in the English department at Northwest Community College.^[2] He has also worked at Capilano College in North Vancouver.

In Vancouver in the early 1970s Stanley became associated with New Star Books, and The Grape, an alternative newspaper. He also has been active in Canadian politics, unions and alternative media.^[2] He is a board member of the Capilano Press Society, publisher of The Capilano Review.^[3]

He retired and again lives in Vancouver.^[1]

Books

• Gentle Northern Summer (New Star, 1995)
• At Andy's (New Star, 2000)
• A Tall, Serious Girl (Qua Books, 2003), his selected works
• Opening Day
• The Stick
• You
• Temporarily
• San Francisco's Gone
• Vancouver: A Poem (New Star, 2008)

Notes

1. Web page titled "Don Precosky's Introduction,/ INTRODUCTION: North of What?" at the Harbour Publishing Web site, accessed December 17, 2006.
2. New Star Books Web site, Web page titled "New Star Books/ Gentle Northern Summer" accessed December 17, 2006.
3. Web site of the Capilano Review, "About Us" Web page, accessed December 17, 2006.

External links

• Works by or about George Stanley in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
• Interview, "It's Still Winter" at Web site of the English Department of the University of Northern British Columbia

Poems

• "Veracruz"
• "Abner"
• "The Power of the Unhappy People"
• "Outside the Kingdome"
• "Aubade"
• "Sex at 62"
• "In Scotland"

Reviews

• North of California Street, Ted Byrne in The Rain Review of Books