Tom Jenks

Maintenant #43 – Christodoulos Makris

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A scrupulous and gifted writer, Christodoulos Makris is a poet of language over territory, a poet of semblance over culture. Twenty years removed from his home nation of Cyprus, he has developed a reputation in both the UK and Ireland, his current place of residence, as a vital and astute poet. In a generous interview he discusses his knowledge of the poetry scene in Cyprus given its political constitution, how his own work is conceived, and how it has grown in the country he has chosen to live. In the very first Maintenant interview of 2011, we present Christodoulos Makris.


Accompanying the interview are five of his poems.

http://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/five-poems-christodoulos-makris/

http://soundcloud.com/maintenant

Maintenant #42 – Aase Berg

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One of the most deft and iconoclastic poets in Northern Europe, over the course of the last 25 years Aase Berg has developed, remarkably, a reputation to match her talent. One of the founding members of the Stockholm Surrealist Group in 1986, it was during the 90’s that she came to the fore as one of the most prominent poets, theorists and critics in Sweden. In the 42nd edition of the Maintenant series she discusses the several collections of poetry she has published, some of which with the Bonnier publishing house, the largest and most prestigious in Sweden, and her thoughts in general on poetic innovation and the state of poetry in contemporary Sweden.

http://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/maintenant-42-aase-berg/

Accompanying the interview are eight of her poems, spanning four collections. Translations are published with thanks to Johannes Goransson

http://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/eight-poems-aase-berg/

Maintenant #41 – Jón Örn Loðmfjörð

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The poetry of Jón Örn Loðmfjörð can be quixotic, even caustic, yet he is undoubtedly a poet so utterly without pretension, with such an indelible sense of humour and a violent sense of satire, that we cannot help but feel reassured that poetry as a medium for criticism is alive and well in his hands. Moreover his is a poetry with a voice that is far more sophisticated than mere polemicism. The paradox is that he is hardly an optimistic poet in manner or guise, but yet the feeling we are left with is one of urbane rigour and integrity. The final poet to be featured in the Maintenant series who participated in our exceptional Icelandic reading program in November 2010, the work of Jón Örn Loðmfjörð was a revelation to all who witnessed it read in the Icelandic embassy and the Rich mix centre. In a typically frank interview we are extremely proud to present Jón Örn Loðmfjörð as the 41st edition of Maintenant

http://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/maintenant-41-jon-orn-lo%C3%B0mfjor%C3%B0/

Accompanying the interview are five of his poems.

http://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/five-poems-jon-orn-lo%C3%B0mfor%C3%B0/

 

Maintenant is a series of interviews with European poets by Steven Fowler, presented with selection of each poet’s work. Catch up with the previous ten below:

The accompanying poetry for each poet can be found at www.maintenant.co.uk

Reality Street Supporter Scheme 2011

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Via Ken Edwards:

The Reality Street Supporter Scheme 2011 has officially opened. Already some existing Supporters have re-subscribed – if you would like to join them, you will receive copies of the following five books in 2011:

  • James Davies: Plants
  • Leopold Haas: The Raft
  • Richard Makin: Dwelling
  • Carol Watts: Occasionals
  • Johan de Wit: Gero Nimo
(Subject to final confirmation and not necessarily in that order)

More than 80 people actively supported Reality Street in 2010. This support is vital for the continuation of the press, as it has been in the past few years. All Supporters, in addition to receiving copies of every book published during the year, are entitled to be listed as a Supporter in the back of the books and in relevant publicity, unless they have expressed a wish to remain anonymous.

The most convenient way to become a Reality Street Supporter is to visit http://www.realitystreet.co.uk/supporter-scheme.php
and click on the appropriate button: UK/Europe (£45) or Rest of the world (£60). You can then pay with your credit/debit card or through PayPal. If you prefer, you can send a sterling cheque payable to Reality Street to the address below. If you would rather pay with a non-sterling cheque or via bank transfer, please reply to this email.

PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING US AS A SUPPORTER – Reality Street gets NO grant aid and is dependent on its readers!