Author of 7 books and translated into 10 languages, he has read at Carnegie Hall and the United Nations and for 6 heads of state including Czech President Vaclav Klaus, So. Korean Prime Minister Young-Hoon Kang and for Mikhail Gorbachev at Moscow's International Poetry Festival (with Robert Bly and Bob Dylan). His poetry has been called "arresting and distinctive" (Richard Wilbur),"Fine-grained and witty," (C.K.Williams) and "dominating--with insight that marks major poets" (Miroslav Holub). His plays "The Landlord" and "Commedia" have been produced in Beijing, Moscow, Athens etc. He has worked as a screenwriter at Paramount Pictures for Producer Al Ruddy and in production on "The Border," "Exile," and Oscar winner,"The Deer Hunter." He served for 25 yrs as Director of USC's Professional Writing Program and for 16 yrs as Distinguished Professor at Charles U. in Prague. In 1996 Buzz Magazine named Ragan one of the "100 Coolest People in Los Angeles: Those Who Make a Difference."

Richard Wilbur "James Ragan’s poems are satisfying and distinctive， full of arresting collocations and striking phrases." --This text refers to the Paperback edition. Miroslav Holub "James Ragan dominates the art of image . . . and the art of poetic narration with insight that marks major poets." --This text refers to the Paperback edition. See all Editorial Reviews