Burning Deck Press
| Company type | Independent press |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1961 |
| Founder | Keith Waldrop, Rosmarie Waldrop |
| Defunct | 2017 |
| Products | Avant-garde poetry and prose books, pamphlets, and chapbooks |
Burning Deck was an independent press dedicated to avant-garde poetry and prose, established in 1961 by authors Keith Waldrop and Rosmarie Waldrop, and it ceased operations in 2017.
Overview
Originally created as a "quinterly" publication, Burning Deck transitioned after just four editions into producing pamphlets, and later developed into a publisher of books featuring poetry and short fiction. The magazine showcased poets representing a wide array of styles, intentionally ignoring the prevalent division between "academic" and "beat" poetry communities of the time, which occasionally led to disagreements among contributors.
By 1985, shifts in the publishing industry’s economics made offset printing more practical for standard books, while letterpress printing was primarily used for smaller chapbooks. The Waldrops prioritized producing well-crafted books, utilizing smyth-sewn bindings and acid-free paper to ensure longevity while keeping costs reasonable.
Notable books
Although functioning as a small nonprofit entity, Burning Deck released groundbreaking works by distinguished writers such as:
- 99: The New Meaning, by Walter Abish
- A Geometry, by Anne-Marie Albiach
- Why Write? by Paul Auster
- The Heat Bird, by Mei-mei Berssenbrugge
- Utterances, by William Bronk
- The Grand Hotels (of Joseph Cornell), by Robert Coover
- Striking Resemblance, by Tina Darragh
- Species of Intoxication: Extracts from the Leaves of the Doctor Ordinaire, by Michael Gizzi
- Artificial Heart, by Peter Gizzi
- The Countess from Minneapolis, by Barbara Guest
- Innocence in extremis, by John Hawkes
- My Life, by Lyn Hejinian
- A Test of Solitude, by Emmanuel Hocquard
- Some Other Kind of Mission, by Lisa Jarnot
- Trial Impressions, by Harry Mathews
- i.e., by Claude Royet-Journoud
- Numen, by Cole Swensen
- The Windows Flew Open, by Marjorie Welish
- Turneresque, by Elizabeth Willis
Translation
Burning Deck issued two distinct translation series: Serie d'ecriture, which annually presented a contemporary French poetry volume, and Dichten=, an annual collection highlighting modern German literature.
Notes
Further reading
External links
- Official Burning Deck website
- 40 Year Anniversary Exhibit showcasing Burning Deck archives at Brown University
- Book publishing companies of the United States
- Small press publishing companies
- Alternative press
- Defunct poetry organizations based in the United States
- Publishing companies established in 1961
- American companies established in 1961
- 2017 disestablishments in the United States
- Defunct publishing companies of the United States