The
chapbook has been around longer than one might think. It was first made possible
by the invention of the printing press, and as early as the 1500s chapbooks
were being published, filled with stories, nursery rhymes, poems, Bible verses,
and just about anything else people were interested in.
When we
refer to poetry chapbooks today, in general we’re talking about a relatively
inexpensive publication, often saddle-stitched, and containing about 40 or so
pages. The production of chapbooks had declined until the invention of the
mimeograph machine (new technology again, like the printing press) and then the
internet and digital printing. Just like we have e-books, we also have “e-chaps.”
For the
past four years, the Floodgate Poetry Series has published an annual collection
of chapbooks, usually including three chapbooks selected by the editor, Andrew
McFayden-Ketchum. This year’s publication, the Floodgate
Poetry Series Vol. 4, features chapbooks by three poets – Regina DiPerna, Ryan Teitman,
and Paisley Rekdal.
To
continue reading, please see my post today at Tweetspeak
Poetry.
No comments:
Post a Comment