ORAL HISTORY INITIATIVE: On Keith & Rosmarie Waldrop

TL;DR

Keith and Rosmarie Waldrop's experimental press Burning Deck played a pivotal role in transforming the literary landscape by publishing and translating a diverse range of avant-garde French and German authors.

Transcript

CHRISTINA DAVIS: Less than a week ago, here at this very podium, a poet read a line attributed to life itself or, perhaps, death, "Why did you keep a travel diary when I was always by your side?" Which reminded me of a line I'd heard Rosmarie Waldrop read in a neighboring room here this year, "She is in Travels," capital T, which is an English lang... Read More

Key Insights

• 🚨 The Waldrops started Burning Deck out of necessity, but it quickly became a platform for experimental literature and a hub for emerging and established writers.
• 🍟 Burning Deck expanded the literary conversation by translating and publishing avant-garde French and German authors.

Questions & Answers

Q: What inspired the Waldrops to start Burning Deck?

Unable to afford printing costs, the Waldrops started their own press to publish their work and eventually expanded to publish other experimental authors.

Q: How did Burning Deck contribute to the literary landscape?

Burning Deck provided a platform for emerging writers and expanded the literary conversation by translating and publishing avant-garde French and German authors.

Q: What was the Waldrops' approach to community and collaboration?

The Waldrops valued community and collaboration, and their press became a hub for emerging and experimental writers. They fostered relationships with writers like Michael Gizzi, Claude Royet-Journoud, and Anne-Marie Albiach.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Waldrops started Burning Deck because they couldn't afford to print their own magazine, and it eventually became a community-driven press with a focus on experimental literature.

• The press provided a platform for emerging writers like Lyn Hejinian and Jonathan Williams, and expanded the literary conversation by translating and publishing French and German authors.

• The Waldrops valued community and collaboration, fostering relationships with writers like Michael Gizzi, Claude Royet-Journoud, and Anne-Marie Albiach.