Poetry Magazines - The best collection of poetry magazines online - Simon Armitage

When the publishers of Atlas 01 suggested I write an editorial introducing the ‘book[maga]zine’ — its process of birth, its vision and its editorial agenda, I declined. I resisted the seduction of putting my own words before those of the writers’. I asserted that this publication ought to stand on its own, on the sheer quality of its content and nothing else. For nothing else mattered when I put the first issue together — it was simply fine writing. Even now, that remains my only criterion for selection.

   Now that the first-born has taken flight and family been set up —
on behalf of the editors, editorial associates and publishers, I would like to share some news and observations about Atlas.

   The essential remit of Atlas is to present the best of Indian and international writing to India and the world — spanning all genres — fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama,  reportage, and essay. Additionally, we showcase substantial portfolios of artists and photographers throughout each issue.

   With our second issue, we introduce two special features. The
first is The Atlas Interview — an insightful and thought-provoking interview with Salman Rushdie opens Atlas 02. With the second new element, Special Focus Feature, we turn the spotlight on ‘New Canadian Writing, Art & Image’ — a  rosssection of bold, new works from 35 established and younger writers and artists from that huge, diverse, and multicultural country.

   More ‘special focus feature’ issues are in the pipeline — Finnish,
Spanish, Swiss, Slovenian, Slovakian, Dutch, Danish, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, and more. Also specials on New Hindi Poetry, New Bengali Writing, and Creative Non-Fiction.

   It is the success of Atlas 01 that gives us the encouragement to carry on. We launched at The British Council / British High Commission (New Delhi) and the Nehru Centre / Indian High Commission (London) last year; an European launch at Dane and Ljubljana in Slovenia; followed by regional launches at the second ‘ICCR Neemrana International Literary Festival’ in Rajasthan, ‘The Times of India Kala Ghoda Arts Festival’ in Mumbai, the ‘Open Space’ in Pune, and others. Excellent reviews and notices appeared
in leading publications.

  As an invited participant to literary and arts conferences and festivals, Atlas 02 travels to the ‘Amsterdam Literary Festival’ this
year, to the Hague, Utrecht, Aarhus, Copenhagen, Presov, Krosice,
Bratislava, Vienna, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and more.

   There has been an overwhelming inflow of contributions from India, South Asia and the rest of the world.

   We have a lot of new material in hand — not just writing in English, but a large amount of work in translation as well.

   In keeping with the policy of publishing Indian and international literature in English and in English translation, we at Atlas publish a generous variety of non-English language authors. Getting good translations isn’t always easy, but we are patient and there is reward at the end.

   There were other rewards as well: The European Union Culture 2000 ‘Review within Review’ project chose Atlas as an associate member — the only magazine from the Asia-Africa-Australasia region.

   Working with an outstanding editorial board has been a sheer pleasure and a special privilege — their insight, recommendations, commissioning and vetting of new material, and other technical advice has been critical to the Atlas success.

   My deepest gratitude to all my colleagues, sponsors, supporters,
friends, critics, subscribers, buyers, readers, and most of, to all the writers, translators and artists without whom the publication would not exist. It is an international team effort that is responsible for the success of Atlas.

   Thank you all, very much. Aap subka mera tahedil se shukriya — and — shobaike aamar bisheesh bhalo baasha.

Cheers.