Obituary for Robert Allen (1946-2006)

Robert Allen - poet, teacher, editor, and mentor to countless Montreal writers - passed away last November. Read The Globe and Mail's obituary for Robert Allen.

Robert Allen has died

On Friday, November 3rd 2006, one of Canada's most accomplished poets passed away. He was the author of nine collections of poetry, three novels, and one book of short stories. This spring his epic long poem, The Encantadas, was released by Conundrum Press.

He was the editor for Matrix, Quebec's longest-running English literary journal. It so happens that it was also the first literary journal to publish my writing.

Works like his The Ricky Ricardo Suites and Standing Wave showed a master craftsman who was equally adept at writing about nature and pop culture icons with ease, themes that I'm interested in pursuing in my own writing.

A mentor to generations of Montreal Anglo poets that include the likes of Jason Camlot, Jon Paul Fiorentino, and David McGimpsey, he has certainly influenced many, not only as a writer but as a teacher and friend. My condolences go out to his family and to all of those who knew him.

More about Robert Allen:

Song of the Sea

Poet and novelist Robert Allen, 1946-2006