A scarce student-published journal from the mid-1970s, containing translations from various languages of sixteen 20th century women poets, including Gisele Prassinos, Ilse Aichinger, Tomioka Taeko, and Belkis Cuza Malé. Each is represented by between one and nine poems, the translations of which are impressively deft and mature. The selection is even more compelling given that most of the poets, despite significant bodies of work in their native languages, have never appeared in English translation. Among those who have, the translations in Matrix pre-date most other English-language versions. Attractively ilustrated with the work of eight artists.
With no bibliographic information in the publication itself, and zero representation in either OCLC or the trade, this compelling artifact remained a mystery for many months after first coming across our desk. After multiple dead ends, and on the verge of giving up, we finally succeeded in tracking down one of the translators via, of all places, a resale clothing website. She was kind enough to explain that the journal was produced as an independent project by a group of undergraduates at Antioch College, in either 1975 or 1976, and that the translations were entirely original.
While we won’t turn away any interested buyers, we would be especially excited to place this item with an institution or press interested in making it more widely available, whether in physical or digital form.
[Yellow Springs, OH]: [Self-published], [1975 or 1976]. Saddle-stapled in printed paper wraps; 7 x 8.5 in.; 66pp. Translated by Susan Crotinger, Lisa Hewit, Christine Lamb, Jean Rashkind, Hiroko Suzuki, and Judith Woodward (each poem credited individually). With drawings by Rodriguez B., Gene Barresi, Mark Brandhorst, Susan Crotinger, Carlos Cuellar, Dieter Goltzsche, Kat Lezenby, and J. R. Smith.In good (+), rather delicate condition. Browning to cover and textblock edges; soiling to rear cover; cover detached at top staple, very nearly detached at bottom. Otherwise complete, clean and unmarked.
Complete list of translated poets: Ilse Aichinger, Dulcila Cañizares, Rosario Castellanos, Ishigaki Rin, Sarah Kirsch, Belkis Cuza Malé, Joyce Mansour, Mune Keiko, Lillianne Pérez-Marchand, Catherine Pozzi, Gisèle Prassinos, Nelly Sachs, Shinkawa Kazue, Takada Toshiko, Tomioka Taeko, Louise de Vilmorin.
