J.B. Turner

J. B. Turner (1945-2022) was an American poet, essayist, and teacher. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, he earned his BA from Yale University and MFA from the University of Iowa. Turner's notable works include the poetry collections "Speaking from the Sun" (1996) and "Mezzanine" (2016), both of which were shortlisted for the National Book Critics Circle Award. His essays on history, culture, and the role of the artist in society have been widely anthologized. Throughout his career, Turner received numerous awards, including the Cave Canem Poetry Prize, the Whiting Award, and the Robert Penn Warren Award. His work has been praised for its lyrical beauty, intellectual rigor, and exploration of race, history, and the human condition.