Fielding Dawson (August 2, 1930 – January 5, 2002) was a beat-era author of short stories and novels, a student of the Black Mountain College. He was also a painter & collagist whose works were seen in several books of poetry & many literary magazines.
Born in New York City, Dawson was known for his stream-of-consciousness style before the term was coined. Much of his work was lax in punctuation to emphasize the immediacy of thought. Additionally, dialogue would often be used to break this up. Though conversational, much of his dialogue could often halt the metre while still staying on track. His lack of deference toward tradition in writing, other than that of the necessity to evoke humanity, often painfully raw, is what puts him in the category of many of his better-known contemporaries, such as Jack Kerouac or Allen Ginsberg.
Dawson was still writing up until his unexpected death in January 2002, but by then had made his name known outside of the strictly literary world. He had become a teacher, first in prisons like Sing Sing, and continuing on to work with at-risk students at Upward Bound High School in Hartwick, New York. He wrote often of his experiences in prisons without regret but not without concern. He expected truth in the work of his students, and as disturbing as that could often be, he refused to look away. This passion for reality ran through his life and work.
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