Harvey Oxenhorn (1952–90) was an American academic, author, and poet, known for his Arctic exploration memoir and contributions to public policy communications. As Director of Harvard’s Public Policy Communications Program, he shaped discussions on writing, policy, and social issues.
Born in New York City, Oxenhorn earned a B.A. from Swarthmore College and a PhD in English from Stanford University. His doctoral thesis, Elemental Things: The Poetry of Hugh MacDiarmid (1984,) examined Scottish poetry and literary themes.
His most notable work, Tuning the Rig: A Journey to the Arctic (1990,) recounts his time aboard a scientific whaling expedition. The book received critical acclaim, with reviews in The New York Times, Toronto Star, and Ottawa Citizen, praising its lyrical prose and reflections on nature and human experience.
Beyond nonfiction, Oxenhorn wrote poetry published in The Atlantic, Ploughshares, and The Southern Review. He refined his literary voice at retreats like the MacDowell Colony and Yaddo.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Harvey Oxenhorn
It is arrogance to expect that life will always be music…. Harmony, like a following breeze at sea, is the exception. In a world where most things wind up broken or lost, our lot is to tack and tune.
—Harvey Oxenhorn
Topics: Acceptance, Realistic Expectations
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