Kaveh Akbar
Born 1989 · Age 36
Iranian–American poet, novelist, editor, and academic. Author of Calling a Wolf a Wolf, Pilgrim Bell, and the novel Martyr!. Director of the University of Iowa undergraduate creative writing program and Poetry Editor of The Nation.
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Life & Career Timeline
Family emigrated to the United States
Akbar's family moved from Iran to the US when he was two years old; he grew up in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Indiana.
Started high-school alternative magazine 'The Quirk'
As a teenager he launched a photocopied alternative magazine called The Quirk, which ran 14 issues and evolved into a poetry journal; he cold-called prominent poets for interviews.
First notable poet interviews (A.D. Winans, Yusef Komunyakaa)
At about 17 he conducted early interviews with poets including A.D. Winans and Yusef Komunyakaa for The Quirk.
Completed bachelor's degree at Purdue University (approx.)
Akbar received his bachelor's degree from Purdue University (year not explicitly given; approximate based on later MFA timing).
Founded Divedapper
Launched Divedapper, a poetry interview website for contemporary poets to share stories and writing.
Started Divedapper Carnival (local events and workshops)
Founded and organized Divedapper Carnival — a day of free readings, workshops and community events in Indianapolis tied to his Divedapper project (annual/local initiative started after founding Divedapper).
Completed MFA at Butler University (MFA '15)
Akbar earned his Master of Fine Arts degree from Butler University (listed as MFA '15 by Butler University materials).
Poem 'Palmyra' performed on PBS NewsHour
Akbar read 'Palmyra' on the PBS NewsHour (December 2015).
Lucille Medwick Memorial Award (Poetry Society of America)
Won the Poetry Society of America's Lucille Medwick Memorial Award for the poem 'Heritage'.
Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowship
Awarded the prestigious Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowship from the Poetry Foundation.
PhD in Creative Writing (Florida State University) — degree noted
Akbar holds a PhD in creative writing from Florida State University (year not specified in sources). Listed here as an acknowledged credential; year uncertain.
Poem published in Poetry Magazine
'Portrait of the Alcoholic Floating in Space with Severed Umbilicus' published in Poetry (October 2016).
Poem published in Poetry Magazine
'Despite My Efforts Even My Prayers Have Turned into Threats' published in Poetry (November 2016).
Published debut full-length collection 'Calling a Wolf a Wolf'
Alice James Books (US) and Penguin Books (UK) published Calling a Wolf a Wolf, Akbar's acclaimed debut collection about addiction and spiritual hunger.
NPR's Book Concierge: Great Reads selection for Calling a Wolf a Wolf
NPR selected Calling a Wolf a Wolf for its Book Concierge Guide to 2017's Great Reads.
Julie Suk Award for Calling a Wolf a Wolf
Received the Julie Suk Award for his debut collection Calling a Wolf a Wolf.
Pushcart Prize (first listed year)
Listed as recipient of a Pushcart Prize in 2017.
Teaching: Purdue University MFA Program & low-residency programs
Akbar taught in Purdue's MFA program and in low-residency MFA at Randolph College (noted in interviews/articles circa 2017).
Activism: compiled poems from countries affected by the Muslim ban
In response to the 2017 US 'Muslim ban', Akbar compiled and circulated poems by poets from the affected countries; the compilation received media coverage.
Began writing weekly 'Poetry RX' column for The Paris Review (with collaborators)
With Sarah Kay and Claire Schwartz, wrote a weekly column for The Paris Review called 'Poetry RX' (dates noted by various bios; approximate start during late 2010s).
Published chapbook 'Portrait of the Alcoholic'
Sibling Rivalry Press released Akbar's chapbook Portrait of the Alcoholic; received praise from Patricia Smith.
Poem 'What Use is Knowing Anything if No One is Around' in The New Yorker
Akbar published a poem in The New Yorker (June 2017).
Guest Editor: Poem-a-Day
Served as a Guest Editor of Poem-a-Day in 2018.
NPR called him 'poetry's biggest cheerleader'
An NPR profile (January 14, 2018) described Akbar as 'poetry's biggest cheerleader.'
Shortlisted for the Forward Prizes' Felix Dennis Prize (Best First Collection)
Calling a Wolf a Wolf was shortlisted for the Forward Prizes' Felix Dennis Prize for Best First Collection (2018 shortlist).
Won Virginia Commonwealth University's Levis Reading Prize
Called the Levis Reading Prize winner for Calling a Wolf a Wolf.
First Horizon Award for Calling a Wolf a Wolf
Received the First Horizon Award for Calling a Wolf a Wolf (2018).
Wrote poems for the film 'The Kindergarten Teacher'
Contributed poems (alongside Ocean Vuong) to the 2018 film The Kindergarten Teacher starring Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Pushcart Prize (second listed year)
Listed as recipient of a Pushcart Prize again in 2018.
Ploughshares John C. Zacharis First Book Award
Calling a Wolf a Wolf won Ploughshares's John C. Zacharis First Book Award (listed 2019).
Published 'The Palace' in The New Yorker
The central poem 'The Palace' was published in The New Yorker on April 18, 2019.
Named Poetry Editor of The Nation
Appointed Poetry Editor of The Nation in 2020, a role previously held by poets like Langston Hughes and W.B. Yeats.
Published 'Pilgrim Bell' (Graywolf Press)
Released second full-length poetry collection Pilgrim Bell with Graywolf Press.
Pilgrim Bell named a Best Book of 2021
Pilgrim Bell was named a best book of the year by Time, The Guardian, and NPR (2021).
Published 'My Empire' in The New Yorker
'My Empire' appeared in The New Yorker (April 5, 2021).
Edited The Penguin Book of Spiritual Verse
Edited The Penguin Book of Spiritual Verse: 110 Poets on the Divine, released by Penguin Classics (collection and notes).
Shortlisted for the Forward Prize (Pilgrim Bell)
Pilgrim Bell was shortlisted for the 2022 Forward Prize for Best Collection.
Co-edited 'Another Last Call: Poems on Addiction and Deliverance'
Co-edited the anthology Another Last Call: Poems on Addiction and Deliverance (Sarabande) with Paige Lewis.
Brooklyn Public Library Book Award for Martyr!
Martyr! won the Brooklyn Public Library Book Prize (2024).
Martyr! included on Barack Obama's summer reading list
Martyr! was chosen for Barack Obama's summer reading list (2024).
Martyr! shortlisted for additional debut fiction prizes
Martyr! was shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize and the Barnes & Noble Discovery Prize (2024).
Martyr! became a New York Times bestseller
Akbar's novel Martyr! appeared on the New York Times bestseller list.
Appointed Director of the University of Iowa undergraduate creative writing major (listed)
Akbar is listed as Director of the English and Creative Writing Major at the University of Iowa (UIowa faculty profile reflects this role as of 2024).
Published debut novel 'Martyr!' (Alfred A. Knopf)
Akbar's first novel, Martyr!, was published by Alfred A. Knopf and received broad critical acclaim.
Martyr! named one of The New York Times Best Books (So Far)
The New York Times named Martyr! one of its Best Books of the Year So Far (May 24, 2024).
Awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship
Named a 2024 John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellow (announcement June 2024).
National Book Award Finalist (Martyr!)
Martyr! was shortlisted/announced as a finalist for the 2024 National Book Award for Fiction (announcements Sept 2024).
Signed open letter to boycott Israeli cultural institutions
In October 2024, Akbar signed an open letter pledging to boycott Israeli cultural institutions over the Gaza war, joining thousands of other authors.
Named to Time's TIME100 Next List
Included in Time magazine's TIME100 Next list (October 2, 2024).
University of Iowa Scholar of the Year
Named Scholar of the Year by the University of Iowa (2025, per UIowa faculty profile).
Longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award (Martyr!)
Martyr! was longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award (announcement in January 2025).
Key Achievement Ages
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