The Gargoyle Poets Series were a series of Australian poetry chapbooks published by Makar Press from 1972-1980 and edited by Martin Duwell.[1] Makar magazine produced four issues a year and from 1972 onward one issue was replaced with three small books from the Gargoyle Poets Series. The series consisted of thirty-seven books of poetry between twenty and thirty-six pages in length.[2]

Makar was established in 1960 as a student run magazine of the English Society of the University of Queensland. Taking its title from the middle-Scots word for maker, it published poetry, fiction, drama and criticism. Graham Rowlands was appointed editor soon after the magazine changed to a smaller format in 1966. Then, in 1968, Martin Duwell was appointed editor, beginning his long association with the magazine. By the early 1970s the poetry published in Makar had evolved, according to Robert Habost in his 1982 assessment for Image, 'from the "gushy", "high flying", imagistic, traditional rhyming verse' of the early 1960s 'to ... stark, concise, condensed verse'.

Makar also conducted a significant series of interviews with contemporary writers, some of which were published in A Possible Contemporary Poetry (1982).[3] In his introduction to this volume, Duwell imagined the Makar audience as 'reasonably intelligent, willing, but puzzled' about the 'profound and acrimonious disagreement about the nature and role of poetry and language'. It was to such debates that Makar addressed itself. The last issue of Makar appeared in September 1980.[4]

Archives for Makar Press, including manuscripts and letters relating to the Gargoyle Poets Series, are available at the Fryer Library, University of Queensland.[5]

Publications and Reviews

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References

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  1. ^ AustLit database. "Makar". AustLit. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  2. ^ Radford, Kristian (June 2011). "Antigone Kefala" (PDF). Fryer Folio: 7–9. Retrieved 7 December 2011.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Duwell, Martin (1982). A Possible Contemporary Poetry. St Lucia: Makar Press.
  4. ^ "Makar". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  5. ^ Makar, Archives. "University of Queensland. English society. "Records, 1966-1980"". UQ Fryer Library. Retrieved 7 December 2011.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Wallace-Crabb, Chris (1972). "Review: Stares and Statues". Poetry Australia. 44: 61–62.
  7. ^ Shapcott, Thomas (December 1972). "Current Poetry: Review "Public Relations"". Australian Book Review. 11: 42.
  8. ^ Shapcott, Thomas (November 1973). "Review: "The Long Distance Poet's..."". Australian Book Review. 12: 135.
  9. ^ Rowlands, Graham (1973). "Review: "The Alien"". Expression Australasia. 12 (6): 18–19.
  10. ^ Shapcott, Thomas (1973). "Review: "Orpheus with a Tuba"". Australian Book Review. 12.
  11. ^ Rowlands, Graham (1975). "Review:"Loves Voyages"". Issue. 5 (1): 49–50.
  12. ^ Brady, Veronica (1975). "Saving Poetry from the Poets. Review: "The Blast Area"". Westerly. 2: 64–68.
  13. ^ Shapcott, Thomas (11 October 1975). "Review: "The Occupying Forces"". The Australian.
  14. ^ Marchant, Rita (1976). "Review: "Ritual Shift"". Semper Floreat. 46 (3): 44.
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