POETRY ACROSS EXILE

Lachmann, Vera (1901–1985); Translations by Holst, Spencer (1912–1987)

Halmdiamanten - Grass Diamonds [Signed - Presentation Copy to Ben Raeburn]

Amsterdam: Castrum Peregrini Press, 1982. First Edition, First Printing. Hardcover with Dust Jacket.
POETRY BETWEEN WORLDS—WORDS THAT SURVIVED.
Lachmann’s poetry reflects a lifelong engagement with classical traditions, human identity, memory, and the relationship between ancient ideas and modern experience. Her work was shaped by her background as a scholar of classical literature and by the historical circumstances of twentieth-century Germany.

Her survival and intellectual career after the Nazi period form an important part of her literary legacy, with poetry serving as a means of preserving cultural memory and exploring questions of identity and belonging.

A PUBLISHER’S COPY.
The inscription to Ben Raeburn adds an important dimension to this copy. As founder and publisher of Horizon Press, Raeburn was closely involved with literary publishing in the second half of the twentieth century, particularly poetry, fiction, and works produced with strong attention to design and presentation.

This copy represents the intersection of two literary worlds: European poetry shaped by exile and memory, and American independent publishing dedicated to bringing distinctive literary voices to readers.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Cream-colored linen boards with stamped gilt spine titles and front cover emblem. Hardcover with original dust jacket protected in clear Mylar. Approximately 8.25 inches tall. 6–113, [5] pages. Bilingual parallel text in German and English. English prose prepared in collaboration with the poet by Spencer Holst.

CONDITION: Fine in Fine dust jacket. No flaws or blemishes noted. Minimal shelf handling. A bright, well-preserved copy retaining excellent presentation quality.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: POETRY ACROSS EXILE—A LIFE IN LANGUAGE
Vera Lachmann was a German poet, translator, and classical scholar whose work reflected the continuing relationship between ancient traditions and modern experience. Her poetry explored memory, identity, human existence, and the enduring questions carried across generations.

Her life also reflected the upheavals of twentieth-century Europe. As a figure connected to German intellectual resistance during the Nazi era and later literary culture, Lachmann’s work carries the perspective of a writer shaped by displacement and historical change.

THE ART OF TRANSLATION.
The bilingual format of Halmdiamanten — Grass Diamonds emphasizes the collaborative nature of literary translation. Spencer Holst’s English prose, prepared in collaboration with Lachmann, allows readers to encounter the poems across languages rather than as a replacement of the original.

THE RAEBURN CONNECTION.
Ben Raeburn’s ownership connects this copy to an important period of independent literary publishing. Through Horizon Press, founded in 1951, Raeburn published works by writers, artists, and cultural figures with an emphasis on literary quality and thoughtful presentation.

While the copy is not identified as an association copy in the strict bibliographical sense, the inscription provides meaningful context for collectors interested in literary publishing history.

SUBJECTS: Vera Lachmann; Spencer Holst; Ben Raeburn; Horizon Press; Castrum Peregrini Press; German Poetry; Literary Translation; Exile Literature; Holocaust Era Intellectual History; Classical Tradition in Literature; Twentieth-Century Poetry, Poetry; Bilingual Literature; Signed Books; Translated Literature; Literary Presentation Copies; German Literature.

Item #20188
ISBN: 9060340469

Price: $185.00