Hochtritt, James: - James Hochtritt was raised in a working-class neighborhood in Santa Clara, California. He earned a BA in American studies and a BA in history from California State University, Chico and an MA and Ph.D. in American history from the University of Oklahoma. His debut collection of narrative poetry examines female, male, and family identity and dynamics pertaining to both the past and the present within the broader historical context of cultural, environmental, political, and social landscapes. The poems reflect the empathetic possibilities as well as the tragic limitations of the American experience.