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The Association of Literary Scholars, Critics, and Writers (ALSCW) has honored Associate Professor of English James Najarian, who specializes in Romantic and Victorian Poetry and nonfiction prose, with its Stephen J. Meringoff Writing Award in Poetry.
Najarian – a specialist in Romantic and Victorian poetry and nonfiction prose whose research interests include gender and sexuality in literature, poetic influence, religion in literature, and book production – won the award for his poems “Kleptomania,” “From the Armenian Quarter,” and “The Frat Boys.” The award judges were poets Greg Delanty and David Curzon.
“I’ve entered poetry and volume publication contests many times, and never made more than finalist, so to win this award from an organization and poets I respect is especially gratifying,” said Najarian, who directs the English Department’s PhD program and edits the scholarly journal Religion and the Arts. He is working on a study of the idea of the “minor poet” in the 19th century.
In addition to receiving a cash prize, Najarian will have his poems published in either the association’s tri-quarterly journal Literary Imagination or its Literary Matters newsletter.
His monograph, Victorian Keats, was published in 2002; he also has published verse in West Branch, The Mennonite, Tar Poetry Review and other journals. His volume of verse, An Introduction to the Devout Life, was selected as a finalist in several publication contests, including at Anhinga Press, The Ashland Poetry Press, and The National Poetry Series.
The Boston-based ALSCW seeks to promote excellence in literary criticism and scholarship, and works to ensure that literature thrives in both scholarly and creative environments. The association’s Meringoff awards are presented annually: in the categories of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction in the fall, and in high school writing in the spring.