Douglas Oliver
Encyclopedia
Douglas Dunlop Oliver was a poet
, novelist, editor
, and educator. The author of more than a dozen works, Oliver came into poetry not as an academic but through a career in journalism, notably in Cambridge
, Paris
, and Coventry
, before attending the University of Essex
in the 1970s. He received a B.A.
(literature
) in 1975 and an M.A.
(applied linguistics
) in 1982. Oliver subsequently lived in Brightlingsea
, Paris, New York
, and again Paris, usually working as a lecturer.
. He left school at fifteen, did national service as a clerk in the RAF School of Cookery and found his way into provincial journalism. He became a journalist first in Coventry
and then in Cambridge
, and was a staff reporter on the Cambridge Evening News
.
In 1962, he married Janet Hughes. They had two daughters, Kate and Bonamy, and a son, Tom. They moved to Cambridge in about 1968. It was there that Oliver formed some ties with a group of poets with connections to The English Intelligencer
and the Ferry and Grosseteste presses: part of the group vaguely associated with J. H. Prynne
which today is acknowledged as an important epicenter of innovative poetry in the United Kingdom (these poets subsequently became known as the Cambridge poets). At this time, Oliver's own poems began to be published.
In 1970, the family moved to Paris where Oliver worked for Agence France-Presse
. Upon his return to England, Oliver took his place as a student at Essex University, which had also become a gathering place for poets. Significantly, it was there that he befriended the American poets Ted Berrigan
(1934—1982) and Alice Notley
.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Oliver continued to lecture, teach, edit and write. His first marriage dissolved in 1987. Eventually Oliver moved to New York and in February 1988 married Alice Notley who had two sons with Ted Berrigan: Edmund and Anselm Berrigan
(both of whom, subsequently, have become established writers themselves). In 1992, Oliver returned to Paris
, and lived there with Notley until his death. According to John Hall, it was during this phase of his life that Oliver was working mostly on Arrondissements .
John Hall on Oliver's work
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, novelist, editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, and educator. The author of more than a dozen works, Oliver came into poetry not as an academic but through a career in journalism, notably in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, before attending the University of Essex
University of Essex
The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
in the 1970s. He received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
) in 1975 and an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
(applied linguistics
Applied linguistics
Applied linguistics is an interdisciplinary field of study that identifies, investigates, and offers solutions to language-related real-life problems...
) in 1982. Oliver subsequently lived in Brightlingsea
Brightlingsea
Brightlingsea is a coastal town in the Tendring district of Essex, England, located between Colchester and Clacton-on-Sea, situated at the mouth of the River Colne, on Brightlingsea Creek. It has an estimated population of 8500....
, Paris, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and again Paris, usually working as a lecturer.
Biography
His parents, Athole and Marjorie Oliver, were Scottish PresbyteriansPresbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
. He left school at fifteen, did national service as a clerk in the RAF School of Cookery and found his way into provincial journalism. He became a journalist first in Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
and then in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, and was a staff reporter on the Cambridge Evening News
Cambridge Evening News
The Cambridge News is a British daily newspaper published each weekday and on Saturdays. It is distributed from its parent company Cambridge Newspapers Ltd's Milton base which was opened in 1991 as a print works, and became the Evening News main operational hub in 1998...
.
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| Douglas Oliver |
In 1962, he married Janet Hughes. They had two daughters, Kate and Bonamy, and a son, Tom. They moved to Cambridge in about 1968. It was there that Oliver formed some ties with a group of poets with connections to The English Intelligencer
The English Intelligencer
The English Intelligencer was a literary magazine/newsletter founded and edited by the poets Andrew Crozier and Peter Riley. It played a key role in the emergence of many of the poets associated with the British Poetry Revival...
and the Ferry and Grosseteste presses: part of the group vaguely associated with J. H. Prynne
J. H. Prynne
Jeremy Halvard Prynne is a British poet closely associated with the British Poetry Revival.Prynne's early influences include Charles Olson and Donald Davie. His first book, Force of Circumstance and Other Poems was published in 1962; Prynne has excluded it from his canon...
which today is acknowledged as an important epicenter of innovative poetry in the United Kingdom (these poets subsequently became known as the Cambridge poets). At this time, Oliver's own poems began to be published.
In 1970, the family moved to Paris where Oliver worked for Agence France-Presse
Agence France-Presse
Agence France-Presse is a French news agency, the oldest one in the world, and one of the three largest with Associated Press and Reuters. It is also the largest French news agency. Currently, its CEO is Emmanuel Hoog and its news director Philippe Massonnet...
. Upon his return to England, Oliver took his place as a student at Essex University, which had also become a gathering place for poets. Significantly, it was there that he befriended the American poets Ted Berrigan
Ted Berrigan
-Early life:Berrigan was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on November 15, 1934. After high school, he spent a year at Providence College before joining the U.S. Army in 1954 to serve in the Korean War. After three years in the Army, he finished his college studies at the University of Tulsa in...
(1934—1982) and Alice Notley
Alice Notley
Alice Notley is an American poet. She was born in Bisbee, Arizona and grew up in Needles, California. She received a B.A. from Barnard College in 1967 and an M.F.A. from the Iowa Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa in 1969. She married poet Ted Berrigan in 1972, with whom she was active in...
.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Oliver continued to lecture, teach, edit and write. His first marriage dissolved in 1987. Eventually Oliver moved to New York and in February 1988 married Alice Notley who had two sons with Ted Berrigan: Edmund and Anselm Berrigan
Anselm Berrigan
Anselm Berrigan is a poet and teacher. He grew up in New York City, where he currently resides with his wife, poet Karen Weiser. From 2003 to 2007, he served as artistic director at the St. Mark's Poetry Project...
(both of whom, subsequently, have become established writers themselves). In 1992, Oliver returned to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and lived there with Notley until his death. According to John Hall, it was during this phase of his life that Oliver was working mostly on Arrondissements .
Further reading
- Contemporary Authors Autobiography Series, Volume 27, Gale Research (Detroit, MI), 1997
Selected bibliography
- Oppo Hectic, Ferry Press (London), 1969.
- The Harmless Building, Ferry Press, 1973, revised edition published in Three Variations on the Theme of Harm (also see below), 1990.
- In the Cave of Suicession, Street Editions (Cambridge), 1974.
- The Diagram Poems, Ferry Press, 1979.
- The Infant and the Pearl, Silver Hounds Press (London), 1985.
- Kind (collected poems), Allardyce, Barnett (Sussex), 1987.
- Poetry and Narrative in Performance, St. Martin's Press (New York City), 1989.
- Three Variations on the Theme of Harm(selected fiction and poetry), Paladin (London), 1990.
- Penniless Politics (also see below), Hoarse Commerce (London), 1991.
- (With wife, Alice Notley) The Scarlet Cabinet (includes "Penniless Politics", "Nava Sutra", and novel "Sophia Scarlett"), Scarlet Editions (New York City), 1992.
- (With Iain Sinclair and Denise Riley) Penguin Modern Poets 10, Penguin (London), 1996.
- Selected Poems, Talisman House (Jersey City, NJ), 1996.
- A Salvo for Africa, Bloodaxe (Newcastle upon Tyne, England), 2000.
- "27 Uncollected Poems" in A Meeting for Douglas Oliver (edited by Wendy Mulford and Peter RileyPeter RileyPeter Riley is a contemporary English poet, essayist, and editor. Riley is known as a Cambridge poet, part of the group vaguely associated with J. H. Prynne which today is acknowledged as an important epicenter of innovative poetry in the United Kingdom. Riley was an editor and major contributor...
) Cambridge: infernal methods, Street Editions and Poetical Histories, 2002. - Arrondissements (edited by Alice NotleyAlice NotleyAlice Notley is an American poet. She was born in Bisbee, Arizona and grew up in Needles, California. She received a B.A. from Barnard College in 1967 and an M.F.A. from the Iowa Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa in 1969. She married poet Ted Berrigan in 1972, with whom she was active in...
), Great Wilbraham: Salt PublishingSalt PublishingSalt Publishing is an independent publisher whose origins date back to 1990 when poet John Kinsella launched Salt Magazine in Western Australia. The journal rapidly developed an international reputation as a leading publisher of new poetry and poetics...
, 2003. - Whisper ‘Louise’: A double historical memoir and meditation, Hastings: Reality Street, 2005.
Translations
- Albiach, Anne-MarieAnne-Marie AlbiachAnne-Marie Albiach is a contemporary French poet and translator.-Overview:Anne-Marie Albiach's poetry is characterized by, among other things, an inventive use of spacing on the printed page...
. Mezza Voce (1984); English translation by Joseph Simas in collaboration with Oliver, Anthony Barnett, & Lydia DavisLydia DavisLydia Davis is a contemporary American writer noted for her short stories. Davis is also a French translator, and has produced several new translations of French literary classics, including Proust's Swann’s Way and Flaubert's Madame Bovary....
(Sausalito, CA: Post-Apollo Press, 1988) ISBN 0-942996-11-9
External links
- Literary Encyclopedia: Douglas Oliver entry on-line resource
- The School of Bedlam excerpt from Whisper ‘Louise’ at Jacket Magazine
- Douglas Oliver: Radial Symposium A blogBlogA blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
symposiumSymposiumIn ancient Greece, the symposium was a drinking party. Literary works that describe or take place at a symposium include two Socratic dialogues, Plato's Symposium and Xenophon's Symposium, as well as a number of Greek poems such as the elegies of Theognis of Megara...
on the work of Douglas Oliver: includes personal responses, detailed commentaries, essays, diaries. Contributors include Pierre JorisPierre JorisPierre Joris, born in Strasbourg, France in 1946 and raised in Ettelbruck, Luxembourg, is a poet and translator. He left Luxembourg at nineteen and since then has lived in the US, Great Britain, North Africa and France...
, Robert Sheppard, and Peter RileyPeter RileyPeter Riley is a contemporary English poet, essayist, and editor. Riley is known as a Cambridge poet, part of the group vaguely associated with J. H. Prynne which today is acknowledged as an important epicenter of innovative poetry in the United Kingdom. Riley was an editor and major contributor...
.
John Hall on Oliver's work
- "Ventriloquising Against Harm" review by John Hall at Jacket Magazine; extensive piece with focus on Oliver's posthumous publications, particularly Whisper ‘Louise’
- "So you don't tell all your meaning": two poems by Douglas Oliver John Hall on Arrondissements in pdf format