Meary James Thurairajah Tambimuttu (15 August 1915 – 23 June 1983) was a Tamilpoet, editor, critic and publisher, who for many years played a significant part in the literary scenes of London and New York City. In 1939 he founded the respected literary magazine Poetry London, which "soon became the best known poetry periodical in England, and Tambimuttu became widely known as a skillful editor."[1] Four issues of Poetry London–New York were published in the 1950s; the fifth in 1960. Among those published by Tambimuttu were Lawrence Durrell, Kathleen Raine, W. H. Auden, Gavin Ewart, Jack Kerouac, Gregory Corso, Allen Ginsberg, Roy Campbell, Robin Skelton, Keith Douglas, and many other notable writers.[2] In 1955 Tambimuttu was described by The New York Times as "probably the best-known contemporary Indian poet".[1] He created two publishing houses, Editions Poetry London (established in 1943) and Lyrebird Press (1968), both of which published major works.[3]
Tambimuttu was born in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), had his primary education at the premier Catholic institution St. Joseph's College, Colombo, and attended university in Colombo before leaving for London at the age of 22. He arrived in 1938, and a year later he began to publish Poetry London, a small magazine that was to be important in the next decade, in particular during the war years. Tambi, as he was called by his friends, met Lawrence Durrell at this time in connection with the small magazine that Durrell published in Paris, Delta (developing from The Booster). As well as editing 14 volumes of Poetry London, Tambi was also involved in book publishing, writing his own poetry and short fiction, as well as being a regular participant in the BBC radio broadcasts Talking To India during World War II.[3]
In July 1943 he set up the publishing house Editions Poetry London, which published Elizabeth Smart's By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept, David GascoynePoems 1937-1942, Lawrence Durrell's Cefalu, Henry Miller's The Cosmological Eye and Sunday After the War, Vladimir Nabokov's The Real Life of Sebastian Knight, Keith Douglas' Alamein to Zem Zem, and Cleanth Brooks' Modern Poetry and the Tradition.[4] Other poets published in Poetry London are a veritable "who's who" of late modernist poetry. In 1943, Tambimuttu commissioned the young artist Lucian Freud to illustrate a book of poems by Nicholas Moore entitled The Glass Tower. It was published the following year by Editions Poetry London and comprised, among other drawings, a stuffed zebra and a palm tree.
Tambimuttu returned to Ceylon in 1949, and in 1952 moved to the United States, where he worked as an editor, launching Poetry London – New York (1956–60),[3] the last issue 5 including American Beat poets.
He returned to London in 1968 and founded the Lyrebird Press.[3] He died in London, aged 67. Archives of Tambimuttu's correspondence and papers are dispersed, but the largest collections are at Northwestern University and the British Library.[5]
^Williams, Jane (1989). Tambimuttu: Bridge Between Two Worlds. Peter Owen. ISBN0-7206-0718-3. pp. 274–290.
^Chris Becket (notes), "Tambimuttu and the Poetry London Papers at the British Library: Reputation and Evidence", Electronic British Library Journal, 2009.
External linksedit
Page at One Hundred Tamils
Tamil studies Now published in the collection: T. Wignesan. Rama and Ravana at the Altar of Hanuman: On Tamils, Tamil Literature & Tamil Culture. Allahabad:Cyberwit.net, 2008, 750p. & at Chennai: Institute of Asian Studies, 2007, 439p.
at Northwestern University Library
Tambimuttu and the Poetry London Papers at the British Library: Reputation and Evidence
Tambimuttu: Re-inventing the Art of Poetry Illustration at the British Library
Meary James Tambimuttu", Making Britain, The Open University.
The Papers of Meary James Thurairajah Tambimuttu at the British Library
"Tambimuttu, 1915-1983". Northwestern University Libraries | Archival and Manuscript Collections.
January 01, 1970
meary, james, thurairajah, tambimuttu, august, 1915, june, 1983, tamil, poet, editor, critic, publisher, many, years, played, significant, part, literary, scenes, london, york, city, 1939, founded, respected, literary, magazine, poetry, london, which, soon, be. Meary James Thurairajah Tambimuttu 15 August 1915 23 June 1983 was a Tamil poet editor critic and publisher who for many years played a significant part in the literary scenes of London and New York City In 1939 he founded the respected literary magazine Poetry London which soon became the best known poetry periodical in England and Tambimuttu became widely known as a skillful editor 1 Four issues of Poetry London New York were published in the 1950s the fifth in 1960 Among those published by Tambimuttu were Lawrence Durrell Kathleen Raine W H Auden Gavin Ewart Jack Kerouac Gregory Corso Allen Ginsberg Roy Campbell Robin Skelton Keith Douglas and many other notable writers 2 In 1955 Tambimuttu was described by The New York Times as probably the best known contemporary Indian poet 1 He created two publishing houses Editions Poetry London established in 1943 and Lyrebird Press 1968 both of which published major works 3 Meary James Thurairajah TambimuttuBorn 1915 08 15 15 August 1915Ceylon Sri LankaDied23 June 1983 1983 06 23 aged 67 London EnglandPen nameTambimuttuOccupationEditor poetNationalityBritishPeriod1938 83GenrePoetrySpouseJacqueline Stanley 1940 1941 Safia Tyabjee 1950 1983 Esta Smith 1960 1965 Contents 1 Biography 2 Works 2 1 Poetry 2 2 Editions 3 Notes 4 External linksBiography editTambimuttu was born in Ceylon now Sri Lanka had his primary education at the premier Catholic institution St Joseph s College Colombo and attended university in Colombo before leaving for London at the age of 22 He arrived in 1938 and a year later he began to publish Poetry London a small magazine that was to be important in the next decade in particular during the war years Tambi as he was called by his friends met Lawrence Durrell at this time in connection with the small magazine that Durrell published in Paris Delta developing from The Booster As well as editing 14 volumes of Poetry London Tambi was also involved in book publishing writing his own poetry and short fiction as well as being a regular participant in the BBC radio broadcasts Talking To India during World War II 3 In July 1943 he set up the publishing house Editions Poetry London which published Elizabeth Smart s By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept David Gascoyne Poems 1937 1942 Lawrence Durrell s Cefalu Henry Miller s The Cosmological Eye and Sunday After the War Vladimir Nabokov s The Real Life of Sebastian Knight Keith Douglas Alamein to Zem Zem and Cleanth Brooks Modern Poetry and the Tradition 4 Other poets published in Poetry London are a veritable who s who of late modernist poetry In 1943 Tambimuttu commissioned the young artist Lucian Freud to illustrate a book of poems by Nicholas Moore entitled The Glass Tower It was published the following year by Editions Poetry London and comprised among other drawings a stuffed zebra and a palm tree Tambimuttu returned to Ceylon in 1949 and in 1952 moved to the United States where he worked as an editor launching Poetry London New York 1956 60 3 the last issue 5 including American Beat poets He returned to London in 1968 and founded the Lyrebird Press 3 He died in London aged 67 Archives of Tambimuttu s correspondence and papers are dispersed but the largest collections are at Northwestern University and the British Library 5 Most of Tambimuttu s own works are difficult to access and his earliest works published before he came to London are lost His greatest influence was as an editor and publisher especially during the 1940s T S Eliot Lawrence Durrell Dylan Thomas count among his influences while he influenced Lawrence Durrell Elizabeth Smart Nicholas Moore Kathleen Raine Gavin Maxwell and George Barker citation needed Works editPoetry edit Natarajah A Poem for Mr T S Eliot s Sixtieth Birthday 1948 PL Pamphlets Out of this War 1941 The Fortune Press Editions edit T S Eliot A Symposium compiled by Richard March and Tambimuttu 1948 Editions Poetry London Poetry in Wartime An Anthology 1942 Faber and Faber India Love Poems 1977 Editions Poetry LondonNotes edit a b Tambimuttu 67 Dies Indian Poet and Editor The New York Times Obituaries 24 June 1983 Sonnenberg Ben Tambimuttu in New York The New York Times 21 September 1997 a b c d Meary James Tambimuttu Wasafiri 27 2 11 2012 doi 10 1080 02690055 2012 662033 S2CID 219614644 Williams Jane 1989 Tambimuttu Bridge Between Two Worlds Peter Owen ISBN 0 7206 0718 3 pp 274 290 Chris Becket notes Tambimuttu and the Poetry London Papers at the British Library Reputation and Evidence Electronic British Library Journal 2009 External links editPage at One Hundred Tamils Tamil studies Now published in the collection T Wignesan Rama and Ravana at the Altar of Hanuman On Tamils Tamil Literature amp Tamil Culture Allahabad Cyberwit net 2008 750p amp at Chennai Institute of Asian Studies 2007 439p Tambimuttu Archive at Northwestern University Library Tambimuttu and the Poetry London Papers at the British Library Reputation and Evidence Tambimuttu Re inventing the Art of Poetry Illustration at the British Library Meary James Tambimuttu Making Britain The Open University The Papers of Meary James Thurairajah Tambimuttu at the British Library Tambimuttu 1915 1983 Northwestern University Libraries Archival and Manuscript Collections Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Meary James Thurairajah Tambimuttu amp oldid 1217782925, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
