Gilbert Wesley Purdy

Gilbert Wesley Purdy has published poetry, prose and translation (from Italian, Spanish and Latin) in many journals, paper and electronic, including: Jacket Magazine, Poetry International (San Diego State University), The Georgia Review (University of Georgia), Grand Street, SLANT (University of Central Arkansas),The Evansville Review (University of Evansville), Consciousness Literature and the Arts (University of Wales, Aberystwyth), Orbis (UK),and Valparaiso Poetry Review. His work in online journalism has been cited by Newsweek.UK and Huffington Post. Gilbert's poetry manuscript, *Mind Dance*, has been shortlisted for the Anita Dorn Memorial Award for Poetry. His poems have received numerous awards from World Order of Narrative and Formalist Poets and other literary organizations. Gilbert began publishing under The Virtual Vanaprastha moniker in 2013. In December of that year, he released an Amazon Kindle book entitled: *Edward De Vere was Shake-speare: at long last, the proof*. He has since published *Henry David Thoreau and Two Other Autistic Lives: before the diagnosis existed*, a full-length book of poems, a novel, and a range of non-fiction titles, all of which are linked-to from this author page. Four of his books are now available in paper format. The VV concept is historical Hindu concept of the Vanaprastha gradually shedding his or her attachment to the material world and entering a stage of partial retirement. His or her time is spent passing along the knowledge and wisdom gained from active engagement in the business of the world.