University of Maine English professor Burt Hatlen passed away this past Monday at the age of 71. Anyone who's attended the University of Maine in the past forty years will remember him as a literary giant, a patient teacher, and an infinitely kind man. He was an accomplished scholar whose expertise was of that rare variety that spans many time periods, cultures, and media, from modern poetry to Renaissance literature. He was a social activist and a patron of the arts. Even during his illness, he continued to teach courses in the English Department and the Honors College, where I had the privilege of hearing him lecture on numerous occasions. Of course, he is most well known as Stephen King's mentor. King has called him "the greatest English teacher I ever had." It's truly a shame that future generations of students and writers will not be able to benefit from his knowledge. The State of Maine was lucky to count him among our citizens. He was such a good man.See the Bangor Daily News article on his life for more.
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