Karen Mulhallen
{{Infobox poet
| name = Karen Mulhallen
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1942}}
| occupation = Educator, poet, editor of Descant literary magazine
| language = English
| birth_place = Woodstock, Ontario, Canada
| education = BA, MA (English), PhD (English)
| alma_mater = University of Toronto
| website = {{URL|karenmulhallen.com}}
}}
Karen Mulhallen (born 1942 in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian educator, poet, essayist, critic and editor. She taught English at Ryerson University from 1967 to 2014. She served as the poetry review editor of The Canadian Forum from 1974 to 1979, and their features editor from 1975 to 1988. In 1973, Mulhallen became editor-in-chief of Descant until its closure in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://fisher.library.utoronto.ca/sites/fisher.library.utoronto.ca/files/mulhallen443.pdf|title=MULHALLEN (KAREN) COLLECTION : BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE|website=Fisher.library.utoronto.ca|accessdate=28 December 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2014/12/11/descant_literary_journal_folds_after_44_years.html|title=Descant literary journal folds after 44 years - The Star|website=Thestar.com|date=11 December 2014 |accessdate=28 December 2018}}
Biography
She received her BA in 1963 from Waterloo Lutheran University, (now Wilfrid Laurier University) her MA (English) in 1967, and PhD (English) in 1975, both from the University of Toronto.
For 42 years, Karen Mulhallen was editor-in-chief of Descant, a Toronto-based quarterly journal of poetry, prose and visual arts. During that time, the magazine won six Canadian National Magazine Awards{{cite web|url=https://magazine-awards.com/en/2014/12/10/farewell-descant/|title=Farewell, Descant|date=10 December 2014|website=National Magazine Awards|accessdate=28 December 2018}} and the Litho Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Printing Industry.{{Cite web |url=http://www.english.utoronto.ca/facultystaff/affiliatedfaculty/mulhallen.htm |title=Mulhallenk |access-date=2015-08-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150605002040/http://www.english.utoronto.ca/facultystaff/affiliatedfaculty/mulhallen.htm |archive-date=2015-06-05 |url-status=dead }}
Until her retirement in 2014, Dr. Mulhallen, a William Blake scholar,{{cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/82295043|title=William Blake's illustrations to Edward Young's Night thoughts: context, Christology and composite work|first=Karen Ann|last=Gabbett-Mulhallen|date=28 December 1975|oclc=82295043|accessdate=28 December 2018|via=Open WorldCat}} was a professor of English at Ryerson University in Toronto [http://www.ryerson.biz/english/faculty-staff/directory/mulhallenk.html] {{dead link|date=December 2018}} and an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto, Department of English.
Early in her career Karen Mulhallen was shy about submitting her work for publication until she became involved with Descant (magazine) in the early 1970s.{{Cite web |url=http://www.openbooktoronto.com/news/special_feature_interview_with_descant_magzaine_editorinchief_karen_mulhallen |title=Special Feature! An Interview with Descant Magazine Editor-in-Chief Karen Mulhallen | Open Book: Toronto |access-date=2015-08-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924061309/http://www.openbooktoronto.com/news/special_feature_interview_with_descant_magzaine_editorinchief_karen_mulhallen |archive-date=2015-09-24 |url-status=dead }} A prolific writer, she has published 18 books of poetry, a number of edited volumes and dozens of essays and academic articles on the arts both in Canada and in the UK. In 2010 she organized and chaired a symposium, "Blake In Our Time: A Symposium Celebrating the Future of Blake Studies & the Legacy of G.E. Bentley Jr."{{cite web|url=http://library.vicu.utoronto.ca/blake_in_our_time/|title=Further Information - Blake In Our Time Symposium - E.J. Pratt Library|website=Library.vicu.utoronto.ca|accessdate=28 December 2018}}
Karen Mulhallen has been called a metaphysical poet.{{cite web|url=http://www.blaurockpress.com/2009/10/karen-mulhallen/|title=Karen Mulhallen - Blaurock Press|website=Blaurockpress.com|accessdate=28 December 2018}} Her most recent book of poetry, Code Orange: An Emblazoned Suite is a bilingual edition (French/English) translated by Nancy Huston (Black Moss Press, 2015).
Her papers are archived at the University of Calgary{{cite web|url=https://searcharchives.ucalgary.ca/karen-mulhallen-fonds|title=Karen Mulhallen fonds. - Archives|website=Searcharchives.ucalgary.ca|accessdate=28 December 2018}} and at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, University of Toronto.{{cite web|url=https://fisher.library.utoronto.ca/karen-mulhallen-papers|title=Karen Mulhallen Papers - Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library|website=Fisher.library.utoronto.ca|accessdate=28 December 2018}}
Selected book publications
Poetry
- Captive Love, A Memoir of Rescue, Polyphonic, Quattro Books, December 2017
- Seasons in an Unknown Key, Tightrope Books, 2017{{cite web|url=http://tightropebooks.com/seasons-in-an-unknown-key/|title=Seasons In an Unknown Key|date=26 February 2017|website=Tightropebooks.com|accessdate=28 December 2018}}
- Code Orange: An Emblazoned Suite, bilingual edition with Nancy Huston, Black Moss Press, 2015{{cite web|url=http://blackmosspress.com/dd-product/code-orange/|title=Code Orange|date=4 August 2015|website=Blackmosspress.com|accessdate=28 December 2018}}
- Fishing Poems, Black Moss Press, 2014{{cite web|url=http://blackmosspress.com/dd-product/fishing-poems/|title=Fishing Poems|date=14 July 2014|website=Blackmosspress.com|accessdate=28 December 2018}}
- The Pillow Books, Black Moss Press, 2011{{cite web|url=http://blackmosspress.com/dd-product/the-pillow-books/|title=The Pillow Books|date=28 February 2013|website=Blackmosspress.com|accessdate=28 December 2018|archive-date=20 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420044857/http://blackmosspress.com/dd-product/the-pillow-books/|url-status=dead}}
- Acquainted With Absence, Selected Poems. Ed. and Introduction by Douglas Glover, Blaurock Press, 2009
- Sea Horses, Black Moss Press, 2007{{cite book|title=Sea Horses|first=Karen|last=Mulhallen|date=15 September 2007|publisher=Black Moss Pr|id={{ASIN|0887534333|country=uk}}}}
- Renga Talk, Pasdeloup Press, 2007. Limited Edition of 12 copies. (dialogue poems with Virgil Burnett){{cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/190965062|title=Renga talk|first1=Karen|last1=Mulhallen|first2=Virgil|last2=Burnet|date=28 December 2018|publisher=Pasdeloup Press|oclc=190965062|accessdate=28 December 2018|via=Open WorldCat}}
- Sea Light, Black Moss Press, 2003{{cite book|title=Sea Light: Poems: Karen Mulhallen: 9780887533808: Books - Amazon.ca|id={{ASIN|0887533809|country=ca}}}}
- Leifr’s Story, Pasdeloup Press, 2002. Illustrated by Helen Edmonds.
- The Grace of Private Passage, Black Moss Press, 2000{{cite web|url=http://blackmosspress.com/dd-product/the-grace-of-private-passage/|title=The Grace of Private Passage|date=28 February 2013|website=Blackmosspress.com|accessdate=28 December 2018}}
- Herm on Tour, Pasdeloup Press, 1998{{cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/42612081|title=Herm on tour|first=Karen|last=Mulhallen|date=28 December 1998|publisher=Pasdeloup Press|isbn=9780920214206|oclc=42612081|accessdate=28 December 2018|via=Open WorldCat}}
- The Caverns of Ely, Pasdeloup Press, 1997{{cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/38592750|title=The caverns of Ely|first=Karen|last=Mulhallen|date=28 December 1997|publisher=Pasdeloup Press|oclc=38592750|accessdate=28 December 2018|via=Open WorldCat}}
- War Surgery, A Jazz Catafalque, Black Moss Press, 1996{{cite book|title=War Surgery: (1981-1995) A Jazz Catafalque: Karen Mulhallen: 9780887532900: Literature: Amazon Canada|id={{ASIN|088753290X|country=ca}}}}
- A Sentimental Dialogue, Pasdeloup Press, 1996 [with Virgil Burnett]{{cite web|url=http://classify.oclc.org/classify2/ClassifyDemo?wi=35975862|title=OCLC Classify -- an Experimental Classification Service|website=Classify.oclc.org|accessdate=28 December 2018}}
- In the Era of Acid Rain, Black Moss Press, 1993{{cite book|title=In the Era of Acid Rain: Karen Mulhallen: 9780887532627: Literature: Amazon Canada|id={{ASIN|0887532624|country=ca}}}}
- Modern Love, Poems 1970-1989, Black Moss Press, 1990{{cite web|url=https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM229988&R=229988|title=Modern love : poems 1970-1989|first=Karen|last=Mulhallen|accessdate=28 December 2018|website=Torontopubliclibrary.ca}}
- Sheba and Solomon, Eleftheria Press, 1984{{cite web|url=https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM868960&R=868960|title=Sheba and Solomon|first=Karen|last=Mulhallen|accessdate=28 December 2018|website=Torontopubliclibrary.ca}}
Edited volumes
- Remember Me! Blake In Our Time A Keepsake Book In Celebration of An Exhibition and Symposium on the Life and Art of William Blake (1757-1827), Victoria University, Toronto, Toronto, Victoria University Library, 2010{{cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/remember-me-blake-in-our-time-a-keepsake-book-in-celebration-of-an-exhibition-and-symposium-on-the-life-and-art-of-william-blake-1757-1827-victoria-university-toronto/oclc/659175616?page=citation|title=Find in a library : Remember me! : Blake in our time : a keepsake book in celebration of an exhibition and symposium on the life and art of William Blake (1757-1827), Victoria University, Toronto|via=Worldcat.org|oclc=659175616|accessdate=28 December 2018}}
- Blake In Our Time, Essays in Honour of G.E. Bentley Jr. ed. and intro., Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 2010{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iPhQsrbDWcoC&q=karen+mulhallen+blake+scholar&pg=PA3|title=Blake in Our Time: Essays in Honour of G.E. Bentley Jr|first=Karen|last=Mulhallen|date=28 December 2018|publisher=University of Toronto Press|isbn=9781442641518|accessdate=28 December 2018|via=Google Books}}
- Beyond The 49th Parallel: Writing The New Canadian Fiction, ed. and intro., Istanbul and Ankara, Turkey, Yapi Kredi Sanat, 2004
- Paper Guitar; Twenty-Seven Writers Celebrate Twenty-Five Years of Descant magazine, ed., Toronto, HarperCollins, 1995{{cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/paper-guitar-27-writers-celebrate-25-years-of-descant-magazine/oclc/32742398?page=citation|title=Find in a library : Paper guitar : 27 writers celebrate 25 years of Descant magazine|via=Worldcat.org|isbn=9780006475101|oclc=32742398|accessdate=28 December 2018|last1=Mulhallen|first1=Karen|year=1995|publisher=HarperCollins }}
- Views from the North, An Anthology of Travel Writing, ed., The Porcupine's Quill, 1984{{cite web|url=https://www.umanitoba.ca/cm/cmarchive/vol13no1/revviewsfromthenorth.html|title=CM Archive|website=Umanitoba.ca|accessdate=28 December 2018}}
- Tasks of Passion: Dennis Lee at Mid-Career, Toronto, Descant Editions, 1982. Edited with Donna Bennett, and Russell Brown.{{cite web|url=https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2260601|title=Tasks of passion: Dennis Lee at mid-career|editor-first1=Karen|editor-last1=Mulhallen|editor-first2=Donna|editor-last2=Bennett|editor-first3=Russell|editor-last3=Brown|date=28 December 1982|publisher=Descant Editions|accessdate=28 December 2018|via=National Library of Australia (new catalog)}}