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Our next paperback is set to be released in September, 2021: Meeting Each Other Alive - Quemar Press' Modern English translations of letters exchanged between Manuela Sáenz and Simón Bolívar - devoted to leading the nineteenth-century South American Revolution and devoted to each other with the same intensity. A new sampler from the book's introduction, one of his early letters, and from her description of the night she saved his life from assassins, is on the News page. |
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Quemar Press' new English translation of Marie de France's twelfth-century Anglo-Norman French Romance, Le Fresne - The Ash Tree - is now a complete book with a Preface and an ISBN, and is available as a free download on our Books page.
In this lai, spontaneous affection overcomes conceptual rejection. |
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Biological Necessity - a 2021 collection of new poems by Jennifer Maiden - is officially released now and available for purchase on the Books for Purchase page From Quemar's Press Release: This new collection of poems reflects Aneurin Bevan's observation that 'Socialism is a biological necessity'. Here, socialism branches out from being a necessity to being the human condition itself, or survival's impulse... In this space, biological necessity is not only something physical, psychological or spiritual - it is also something empathetic and practical, the elements of a discourse in lyricism and humanity between poet and reader. |
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Quemar Press' new paperback is now available, Jennifer Maiden's The Cuckold and the Vampires: an essay on some aspects of conservative political manipulation of art and literature, including the experimental, and the conservatives' creation of conflict. It can be purchased from the Books for Purchase page.
From Quemar's Press release: ...She has stated that it was created to be discursive and explorative in order to help widen the perspective of both sides of the political spectrum. The work discusses some of the vast history of conservative influences and persuasions in art, from medieval Europe to contemporary America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The essay's warm, enjoyable, astute and witty tone humanises political forces, institutions and players.... This essay acts as a platform to give an artistic overview, to deconstruct microcosmal, interpersonal powerplay and rejection. In spite of any labyrinth or lure, here neither art nor artist are lessened by the impact of political manipulation, and candid respect for art is at one with the artist's survival. |
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All She Resolves to Rescue is now available - a paperback presenting Marie de France's medieval romances Lanval and Guildeluec and Guilliadon (known as Eliduc) in Quemar Press' new Modern English translation, with the original Anglo-Norman French, and a subjective essay on the translations. The paperback can be purchased on the Books for Purchase page.
From Quemar's Press Release: The title All She Resolves to Rescue has two senses. On one level, the female heroes in these texts discern all that needs to be rescued. On another level, the rescues affect all, connecting disparate worlds surrounding them. Here, a sprite-like Lady can tell the Knight Lanval that she could never appear visible before him again if he let anyone know of their affection, but when her existence and her actual presence are the only things that can rescue him from the Court's corruption, she rides openly through the city, having decided to speak unconcealed before Lanval and the Court. In a similar way, with similar emancipatory energy, Guildeluec - the wife of the titular Knight Eliduc - can decide to revive the Lady whom Eliduc loves, who was hidden to her until that day... |
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Jennifer Maiden's new 75-page The Cuckold and the Vampires: an essay on some aspects of conservative political manipulation of art and literature, including the experimental, and the conservatives' creation of conflict is now available on the Books page with an ISBN as a free download.
Maiden has observed: ‘One purpose of the essay is to try to warn against microcosmic unwariness in a situation where overwhelming macrocosmic forces are at play…there are all sorts of twists and turns during the course of my essay. My focus is on the wider causes of damage and the nature of power in art… we will continue to try here to respect what Pinter considered mandatory and to smash the mirror of the microcosm, to try to look at the macrocosm behind it.’ The essay is immense in scope and immensely enjoyable, astute and witty. |
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Quemar Press' new Modern English translation of Marie de France's Guildeluec and Guilliadon ( a romance known as Eliduc) with a new Preface by the translator now has an ISBN, and is available as a free download on the Books page.
From Quemar Press' Preface:
'Near the story's conclusion, the narrator explains '"they all made such effort/...so made their ending beautiful completely". Here, effort belongs to both natural force and protagonist, whether it is a storm forcing necessary truth to be revealed, or someone actively on watch over one she resurrected. Whether in a wave-torn ship, or unfolding and enfolding forest depths, this is a story where humane survival, affection and rescue come from action and deliberation, to surpass societal concepts such as roles in relationships, marriage and rivalry.'
From Quemar Press' Preface:
'Near the story's conclusion, the narrator explains '"they all made such effort/...so made their ending beautiful completely". Here, effort belongs to both natural force and protagonist, whether it is a storm forcing necessary truth to be revealed, or someone actively on watch over one she resurrected. Whether in a wave-torn ship, or unfolding and enfolding forest depths, this is a story where humane survival, affection and rescue come from action and deliberation, to surpass societal concepts such as roles in relationships, marriage and rivalry.'
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Jennifer Maiden's collection The Espionage Act: New Poems (2020) - available now
It can be purchased on the Books for Purchase page. From Quemar's Press Release: The Espionage Act is the new poetry collection by the internationally renowned author, Jennifer Maiden. With her characteristic clear, powerful focus and crisp but sumptuous lyrical style, she analyses espionage in many senses - from the U.S. 1917 Espionage Act to reflections on the Deep State, to tactical levels in conservative espionage, to its sexuality of fear, to covert promotion and funding of experimental art, to espionage as survival, and to espionage's reactions to primal digital technology. Maiden also describes the mind itself in its multifaceted acts of espionage. |
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Quemar Press' new paperback, Workbook Questions: Writing of Torture, Trauma Experience, by Margaret Bennett and Jennifer Maiden, is now available. It can be purchased on the Books for Purchase page. Workbook Questions: Writing of Torture, Trauma Experience is designed to facilitate survivors of trauma and torture in writing of traumatic experiences, even if complex or untold, by using clinically planned questions to create a space where the survivor's sense of self and identity can remain securely intact. |
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Quemar Press' lively new far-reaching paperback, Once She Had Escaped the Tower, is available now, and can be purchased on the Books for Purchase page.
From Quemar's Press Release:
The title 'Once She Had Escaped the Tower' has two meanings: once a lady escaped an imprisoning tower resolutely; and the lady continued her actions after escape. In contrast to literature in which a female hero dies captive in a tower, and to works in which her escape signals the end of narrative, Quemar Press’ new volume shows female protagonists’ survival, and casts light on them as they continue. This volume includes two texts encompassing this ability to continue: Medieval French chantefable 'Aucassin and Nicolette' and Marie de France’s Anglo-Norman Romance 'Gugemer'. Quemar's Modern English translations are juxtaposed with the early French texts. This volume also includes a subjective essay by the translator.
From Quemar's Press Release:
The title 'Once She Had Escaped the Tower' has two meanings: once a lady escaped an imprisoning tower resolutely; and the lady continued her actions after escape. In contrast to literature in which a female hero dies captive in a tower, and to works in which her escape signals the end of narrative, Quemar Press’ new volume shows female protagonists’ survival, and casts light on them as they continue. This volume includes two texts encompassing this ability to continue: Medieval French chantefable 'Aucassin and Nicolette' and Marie de France’s Anglo-Norman Romance 'Gugemer'. Quemar's Modern English translations are juxtaposed with the early French texts. This volume also includes a subjective essay by the translator.
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Quemar's complete Modern English translation of Lanval, Marie de France's Medieval French Romance, is now available as a free download on our Books page with an introduction.
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brookings: the noun, Jennifer Maiden's new poetry collection from Quemar Press, is now available in paperback and electronic editions from the Books for Purchase page.
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The final novel in Jennifer Maiden's Play With Knives Quintet, George and Clare, the Malachite and the Diamonds, is available now from Quemar Press.
At the Books for Purchase page, you can find information on how to purchase or obtain it.
From Quemar's Press release:
The last novel in Jennifer Maiden's Play With Knives Quintet, George and Clare, the Malachite and the Diamonds experiments across poetry, prose, style, person, action and sense of self.
Clare was the central character in what the Oxford Companion to Australian Literature calls Maiden's 'impressive' first Play With Knives novel. Set in Sydney's Western Suburbs, it was first published in 1990, and centres on Clare and George's survival as Clare is released from prison. The Quintet outlines the growth of these characters...
Whether in Russian winter light, or the light of a Mount Druitt mall at midnight, this work experiments to create platforms where aspects of reality or experience can integrate, as they move between a sense of self and overview, between action and the ability to transcend it.
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At the Books for Purchase page, you can find information on how to purchase or obtain it.
From Quemar's Press release:
The last novel in Jennifer Maiden's Play With Knives Quintet, George and Clare, the Malachite and the Diamonds experiments across poetry, prose, style, person, action and sense of self.
Clare was the central character in what the Oxford Companion to Australian Literature calls Maiden's 'impressive' first Play With Knives novel. Set in Sydney's Western Suburbs, it was first published in 1990, and centres on Clare and George's survival as Clare is released from prison. The Quintet outlines the growth of these characters...
Whether in Russian winter light, or the light of a Mount Druitt mall at midnight, this work experiments to create platforms where aspects of reality or experience can integrate, as they move between a sense of self and overview, between action and the ability to transcend it.
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Quemar's full Modern English translation of Gugemer, Marie de France's Medieval French Romance, is now available on our Books page with an introduction. It is a free download.
Quemar Press' unique study of the post-war Surrealist artist, Vera Rudner, is now available for purchase on the Books for Purchase page.
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Play With Knives: Three & Play With Knives: Four - Jennifer Maiden's recent, cutting-edge novels in poetry and prose - are available in one paperback volume from Quemar Press.
It is available for purchase on the Books For Purchase page.
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It is available for purchase on the Books For Purchase page.
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Jennifer Maiden's awaited new selected from Quemar Press, Selected Poems 1967-2018 is now available for purchase on the Books for Purchase Page.
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Jennifer Maiden's Play With Knives & Play With Knives: Two: Complicity in one 296 page paperback volume - now released from Quemar Press.
It can be purchased on our Books for Purchase page for $21.00 (Australian) with free postage worldwide.
It can be purchased on our Books for Purchase page for $21.00 (Australian) with free postage worldwide.
The complete novel, Play With Knives: Four: George and Clare, the Baby and the Bikies by Jennifer Maiden is now available as a free download from the Books page.
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The complete Medieval French Chantefable, Aucassin et Nicolette, translated and photo-illustrated by Katharine Margot Toohey, is now available as a free download on the Books page.
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Following support and requests from our readers, complete advance copies of Jennifer Maiden's new 150-page, 40-poem collection, Appalachian Fall: Poems About Poverty in Power, are now available for purchase from Quemar Press in our own exclusive print and electronic editions.
The editions can be purchased from our Books for Purchase page.
We have received several queries about the nature of the purchase. The advance copies are complete ones and the same as they will be in a shop. If in a shop, the Recommended Retail Price will be at least $21.00 and the electronic edition will not be included.
We are offering the book and download for $18.50, and the download by itself for $5.00. We are not charging postage anywhere. We are posting the book through Australia Post mail as soon as the order is placed, and it has always been received very promptly (there have been inquiries as to whether these were only advance orders). If the purchaser does not wish to use PayPal, other arrangements such as cheque can be made via our contact page, and we have already been happy to do so.
To clarify further, the collection has 22 more poems than the sampler, which can still be downloaded through the cover image on the Books for Purchase page. In the collection, but not in the sampler, are new poems such as those on Brigitte Bardot, Nora Barnacle, Bruce Beaver, Christopher Brennan, Vera Rudner, polar bears, carbon credits, Twin Peaks, May Holman, Carols at Kings, the poem as essay, Appalachian terrors, mountaintop mining and extraordinary autobiographical pieces.
The editions can be purchased from our Books for Purchase page.
We have received several queries about the nature of the purchase. The advance copies are complete ones and the same as they will be in a shop. If in a shop, the Recommended Retail Price will be at least $21.00 and the electronic edition will not be included.
We are offering the book and download for $18.50, and the download by itself for $5.00. We are not charging postage anywhere. We are posting the book through Australia Post mail as soon as the order is placed, and it has always been received very promptly (there have been inquiries as to whether these were only advance orders). If the purchaser does not wish to use PayPal, other arrangements such as cheque can be made via our contact page, and we have already been happy to do so.
To clarify further, the collection has 22 more poems than the sampler, which can still be downloaded through the cover image on the Books for Purchase page. In the collection, but not in the sampler, are new poems such as those on Brigitte Bardot, Nora Barnacle, Bruce Beaver, Christopher Brennan, Vera Rudner, polar bears, carbon credits, Twin Peaks, May Holman, Carols at Kings, the poem as essay, Appalachian terrors, mountaintop mining and extraordinary autobiographical pieces.
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In 2021, Quemar will publish a new English translation of Bernat Metge's late fourteenth century Catalan masterpiece, Lo Sompni (known as 'Lo Somni' in modern Catalan). This story about official persecution is a precursor to works such as Orwell's 1984.
A 37th preview, now comprising the entire Book One of Lo Sompni (The Dream) and the beginning of Book Two, is available by clicking on the cover picture below.
Imprisoned in a dangerous setting for the murder of King John the First, Metge described spectral conversations with the dead King so that the text would persuade society of Metge's innocence. The intricate metaphysical debate in the dialogue reinforced the recognition that Metge was not regarded as guilty by the late King. There was also deliberate contextual irony in that the Metge persona continued to debate the existence of the spiritual afterlife with the vibrant spirit of the King, Metge then having moved on to the subject of the survival of animals' souls, for which survival he argued against the King, if still needing to display deference. There was a new facet of irony here, as the reader already knew that the King is accompanied by spectral birds and hounds. Whilst Metge at last appeared to accept the King's more orthodox position, the work allowed him to present his own broader humane perceptions in a safe context. The scene was set for their dialogue to continue, although the King warned Metge to be succinct, as the King could not stay long. In Book Two, the concept becomes even more direct and daring, as Metge begins to question the King about the circumstances of the King's death, and the nature of death and fear. The King then recounts his experience in trying to justify his position in the medieval Papal Schism to the Devil, before being assigned to Purgatory. The Humanist Metge continues to use traditional medieval theology to give verisimilitude to the King's situation in persuading the audience of the work's supposedly orthodox nature, and Metge's innocence of killing the King, whilst Metge's own persona remains courteously questioning about the theology. The King is given more verisimilitude by his recounting of his own debate with the Prince of Evil Spirits about Papal conflict between Rome and Avignon. In this, the King describes learning that his own involvement and lack of impartiality in that factional Schism encouraged it for selfish reasons, when the conflict should have been democratically controlled.
A 37th preview, now comprising the entire Book One of Lo Sompni (The Dream) and the beginning of Book Two, is available by clicking on the cover picture below.
Imprisoned in a dangerous setting for the murder of King John the First, Metge described spectral conversations with the dead King so that the text would persuade society of Metge's innocence. The intricate metaphysical debate in the dialogue reinforced the recognition that Metge was not regarded as guilty by the late King. There was also deliberate contextual irony in that the Metge persona continued to debate the existence of the spiritual afterlife with the vibrant spirit of the King, Metge then having moved on to the subject of the survival of animals' souls, for which survival he argued against the King, if still needing to display deference. There was a new facet of irony here, as the reader already knew that the King is accompanied by spectral birds and hounds. Whilst Metge at last appeared to accept the King's more orthodox position, the work allowed him to present his own broader humane perceptions in a safe context. The scene was set for their dialogue to continue, although the King warned Metge to be succinct, as the King could not stay long. In Book Two, the concept becomes even more direct and daring, as Metge begins to question the King about the circumstances of the King's death, and the nature of death and fear. The King then recounts his experience in trying to justify his position in the medieval Papal Schism to the Devil, before being assigned to Purgatory. The Humanist Metge continues to use traditional medieval theology to give verisimilitude to the King's situation in persuading the audience of the work's supposedly orthodox nature, and Metge's innocence of killing the King, whilst Metge's own persona remains courteously questioning about the theology. The King is given more verisimilitude by his recounting of his own debate with the Prince of Evil Spirits about Papal conflict between Rome and Avignon. In this, the King describes learning that his own involvement and lack of impartiality in that factional Schism encouraged it for selfish reasons, when the conflict should have been democratically controlled.
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One of Quemar's goals is to help make vibrant and vital literature accessible, and with that in mind, we are grateful for the enthusiasm for Quemar's Modern English translations. We can confirm that we will continue translating the work of Marie de France, Bernat Metge, Manuela Saenz and Simon Bolivar, and we're continuing our book-length work, Shining Moon, with translations of some medieval Asian Women's Literature, including Japan, China, Korea and India.
The 12th preview of the work can be read by clicking on the cover image above.
The 1st preview includes Modern English translation of an early Korean Sijo (a descriptive poem with theme and resolution) written by Hwang Jini - a poet and Kisaeng - with a description of the Sijo structure and translator's observations on the poem and the poet.
The 2nd preview includes Modern English translation of a poem written in Chinese verse by the Korean poet Heo Nanseolheon (protesting a seamstress' inhumane working conditions) and translator's observations. The 3rd preview includes translation of a poem about missing home by the Korean poet Shin Saimdang and a discussion of her work. The 4th preview features a translation of a poem by the great Chinese Song Dynasty poet Li Qingzhao. The 5th preview includes a translation of a work by Bao Junhui, a Chinese Tang Dynasty Court poet who powerfully describes the hardships of soldiers defending the northern border. The 6th preview begins a translation of Liu Rushi's long late Chinese Ming Dynasty story poem, Swordsmanship. Liu Rushi uses surreal and symbolic images and techniques based on her transgender personae (in real life, too, she enjoyed dressing as a man) to convey the metaphors and physicality of battle. The 7th, 8th and 9th previews continue and conclude the poem, as its world, progress and persona intensify.
The 10th preview casts light on fluid hierarchical roles of Chinese literature in the Heian period of Japan, and focuses on the work of the renowned writer Murasaki (c. 973 or 978 - c.1014 or 1031) and her Tale of Genji. The 11th preview looks further at the work of Murasaki, including her connection of physical place with spirituality. The 12th preview turns to the work of Sei Shonagon (Murasaki's contemporary), and its enjoyment of list-making and the expressions of incarnation and memory this involves.
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Quemar is happy to release eight early preview poems from Ox in Metal, an upcoming 2022 Quemar Press paperback collection of new poems by the author Jennifer Maiden.
Whilst the first poem, Murder, He Worried, is not graphic about violence, it refers to the hero Malcolm Turnbull's public doubts about the death of a possible assault victim, and his imagined discussion of this with his relative Angela Lansbury, shown as playing one of her famous roles: a woman detective and mystery writer. We therefore give a trigger warning for this poem.
The second poem It can't be easy, being Tabaqui, begins with a quote from Putin about the jackal in Kipling's Jungle Book, and examines the political context and symbolism of that animal's plight.
The third poem, Doctor Donne and the Country Women examines the current conflict in the Middle East and the NSW Government's policy on mice in terms of an imagined dual metaphor by John Donne and concludes with him delivering a sermon to the Country Women's Association before he leaves to address Mossad.
The fourth poem, There seems an easiness was inspired by the gift of Nadia Wheatley and Meredith Burgmann's very valuable book about 1960s protest, Radicals, and reflects on methods of dealing with deception and danger.
The fifth poem, Tritium the Mascot, is about Tritium, an actual mascot invented by the Japanese Government to promote their release of the radioactive atom Tritium in the Fukushima wastewater now being released into the ocean. Officially deemed too unserious, the Japanese mascot of the Tritium atom has been discontinued, but Maiden in the poem is able to console her own little mascot Brookings ( a pombat - wombat-possum cross - named after the Brookings Institution), who is an anime enthusiast, that Tritium the real atom will continue his adventures in the sea, and that she will tell Brookings stories about him. Maiden's endearing creation Brookings also appears in two of her recent collections, brookings: the noun and The Espionage Act.
The sixth poem, Fifty Years Gone, is a moving and inspiring work in which the late author Gore Vidal is imagined as visiting Julian Assange in Belmarsh prison after Assange's 50th birthday in July, 2021. This, too, is the 50th anniversary period of the publication of Daniel Ellsberg's Pentagon Papers, and in the poem Vidal thinks about Assange and also remembers 50 years ago, including Ellsberg and Norman Mailer. Maiden has already published poems about Vidal and Assange in two of her recent poetry collections, The Espionage Act and Biological Necessity.
The seventh poem, Death-Wish Moths, compares the dangerous life of a real moth, which has been at least temporarily rescued, to the self-chosen perils of intelligence assets who are often predictably betrayed by their employers and causes. Part of the poem's subject is contemporary Haiti.
The eighth poem, Pegasus, is an intense metaphorical lyric about the Pegasus hacking software - spyware - developed in Israel and marketed and licensed to governments around the world. The poem also develops the theme of assets who are betrayed.
Click on the cover image above left to read the poems.
There is an audio recording of It can't be easy, being Tabaqui (performed by Jennifer Maiden) on our News page.
Another poem from this collection, Clare and Kiribati (published recently in Australian Book Review, April, 2021) can be read online at:
'Clare and Kiribati', a new poem by Jennifer Maiden (australianbookreview.com.au)
There are also audio recordings of Fifty Years Gone and Clare and Kiribati performed by Jennifer Maiden on our News page, as is an audio recording of her performing the Ox in Metal collection's title poem. The text of this title poem was published in the Winter, 2021, edition of the fine journal of creative writing and commentary, Meanjin.
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