Dr. Stephen Mirarchi

Stephen Mirarchi (Ph.D., Brandeis University) is Associate Professor of English. He is the author of the annotated Mr. Blue (Cluny Media, 2016) and four other books from Cluny Classics, a line of reprinted Catholic books with updated, scholarly introductions. He has published academic articles on Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen Crane, Louise Glück, Robert Pinsky, François Mauriac, J.R.R. Tolkien, Dean Koontz, and Raymond Carver. He has also written numerous book reviews and popular articles for the St. Austin Review, the National Catholic Register, Crisis, EpicPew, and the Boston Globe. He and his wife live in Atchison with their daughter.

CLASSES

Modern Catholic Fiction

European Catholic Fiction

Edgar Allan Poe

Spirituality and Literature

American Literature up to the Civil War

American Literature after the Civil War

Freshman Composition

EDUCATION

Ph.D., Brandeis University

Additional post-doctoral work in Catholic theology and spirituality at Kenrick School of Theology and Creighton University

RESEARCH SPECIALTIES & INTERESTS

Catholic fiction, early American literature, religion and literature

PUBLICATIONS

Academic Publications

“The Paradox of Powerlessness in Robert Pinsky’s Early Jesus Poems.” Christianity and Literature, forthcoming.

“Not Magic Rope: Intellect, Will, and Assent in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.” St. Austin Review, forthcoming.

Review of St. Peter’s B-list, edited by Mary Ann B. Miller. St. Austin Review, forthcoming.

“Humility, Obedience, Communion: Raymond Carver’s Religious Revisions.” St. Austin Review 14:6 (November/December 2014): 25-8.

Review of Terrapin, by T. M. Doran. St. Austin Review 14:4 (July/August 2014): 34-5.

“A Dilating Soul: Unexpected Grace in Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage.” The Red Badge of Courage, Ignatius Critical Edition, ed. Mary R. Reichardt. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012. 243-59.

Review of Toward the Gleam, by T. M. Doran. FCS Quarterly 34:4 (Winter 2011): 61.

“Witnessing the New Humanity in Healing Social Networking’s Ills.” Seminary Journal 13:1 (Spring 2007): 104-107.

“Conditions of Possibility: Religious Revision in Raymond Carver’s ‘Cathedral’.” Religion and the Arts 2:3 (1998): 299-310.

“‘Cathedral’ by Raymond Carver: A Variorum Edition.” Editor. Religion and the Arts 2:2 (1998): 279-298.

Popular Publications

“Let There Be Light on the Antichrist: C.S. Lewis and Temptation.” National Catholic Register 6 June 2010, 7.

“Spiritual Consolation Along The Road: Cormac McCarthy and Spiritual Discernment.” National Catholic Register 18 October 2009, 7.

Review of No One Sees God: The Dark Night of Atheists and Believers, by Michael Novak. National Catholic Register 23 August 2009.

Review of Again to Carthage, by John L. Parker, Jr. Running Times March 2008.

“When All the Horses Are Too Pretty: Cormac McCarthy in Film.” Boston Globe 21 January 2001, F4.

PRESENTATIONS

“Edgar Allan Poe’s Black Masses.” Paper presented at the annual Symposium for Advancing the New Evangelization, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS, 22 March 2014.

“Love of Mary, Horror of God: The Catholic Influence in Edgar Allan Poe.” Paper presented at the faculty colloquium series, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS, 19 March 2014.

“Not Magic Rope: Intellect, Will, and Materialism in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.” Paper presented at the annual conference of the Florida College English Association, Hillsborough Community College, Ybor City, FL, 12 October 2012.

“Strengthening the Bonds of Unity from Blue Man Group to Watchmen.” Paper presented as part of the Lenten Reflections series—thirty-minute lectures—to faculty and staff of Jesuit High School, Tampa, FL, 9 March 2009.

“Tears in the Liturgy: Lachrymosity in the Missale Romanum since 1962.” Paper presented at the annual conference of the Society for Catholic Liturgy, Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, OH, 22 September 2007.