Lit Bits from Eastern Europe
Theme: Eastern Europe
Noteworthy
Friends, please do not think this is the work of a sloth. No, what I offer today is a quick look at what some exquisite literary journals are publishing when it comes to writers hailing from Eastern Europe. For instance, take issue no. 27, The International Issue, of Tin House. Packed like a small suitcase after a long trip, this issue in particular is full of gems from around the globe. But we are concerned with one piece of note, an excerpt from Romanian writer Dumitru Tsepeneag, The Vain Art of the Fugue(later put out by Dalkey Archive Press). A bow to form and its need to be stretched, Tsepeneag plays with perception and time, the real and the surreal, and all with a winking sense of joviality. And I wish I had more to offer as far as Polish poets, but please accept this luscious savory ort, Lilies by Adam Mickiewicz, as meager gesture of reprieve. This haunting poem appears in issue no. 2 of Calque whose editors wisely added an introduction by the talented translator, Leonard Kress. And speaking of Calque, you would be remiss if you did not plunge head first into issue no. 5 which had work by the famed Czech writer, Bohumil Hrabal and the Romanian poet, Dan Sociu. And making an appearance for the first time at Salonica is A Public Space with it's essay by Dubravka Ugresic (issue no.6), All Foreigners Beep. I will be review her book of essays later, but this is a humorous piece from the Yugoslavian/Croatian. Also, my favorite titled literary journal, Van Gogh's Ear, gives us a poem with a quick jabbing right in, EU., OR THE POETRY OF MENUS by Romanian-American Andrei Codrescu in issue no. 4. I have many times gone on about Absinthe: New European Writing, and I will probably continue on that path, but there are many reasons to do so. You could really pick up any issue of Absinthe and find a well-rounded collection of poetry, prose and art, but I referring specifically to issue no.11. This issue has the earthy poetry by the Romanian poet Liliana Ursu and Slovenian writer Boris Pintar who writes a tale of bisexuality, The Symposium.These are just a few of the fantastic lit journals out there focusing on world literature. And don't think this is just a print thing, all you blogheads out there will get your fill when I do a post about some great places to read about Eastern European literature. Until then...
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