John Balaban's central subjects and themes emanate from his moral belief in taking decisive action to oppose human violence, particularly war. He affirmed these convictions when he became a Quaker at sixteen, while searching for an alternative to the violence he witnessed frequently in the tough, housing-project neighborhood where he was raised. Later, when drafted for military service, he sought and received permission to go to Vietnam as a civilian conscientious objector. His strong opposition to the Vietnam War and his alternative service in Vietnam provide part of the thematic framework for his poetry and prose. His voice adds the perspective of a conscientious objector to America's growing body of literature about the Vietnam War and its far-reaching effects.

Born in Philadelphia to Phillip and Alice Georgies Balaban, John Balaban attended Pennsylvania State University, earning a B.A. with highest honors in English in 1966. During his senior year...