April is National Poetry Month—the 30th anniversary, no less— and what better time to celebrate those treasured chapbooks.
Chapbooks are short, inexpensive booklets, usually under 40 pages, containing works of poetry and other art forms. They’re typically produced in small runs and printed in any number of eclectic mediums. For a finishing touch, chapbooks are often hand-bound in an artistic stitch, making them both visual and literary works of art.
Historically, chapbooks go back to 16th century Europe, where they were sold by traveling peddlers known as “chapmen.” Today, they’re a staple of literary communities everywhere and as poetry nudges its way back into our everyday reading, so does the chapbook. Emerging poets love them because they offer an accessible means of showcasing their portfolio. Collectors prize them as an artistic genre.
Of course, let’s not forget the small, independent presses and bookstores that champion chapbooks. “Indies,” as we know them, are an intimate niche all their own. They’re well worth our attention simply because of their love of the written word.
My Favorite Press
I’m in no way a poetry connoisseur but I happily gloat over my collection of gorgeous chapbooks. With good reason—I have connections. My favorite small press, Adjunct Press, in St. Francis, Wisconsin, is run by my son Jonny Lohr and daughter-in-law Alice Ladrick. For more than 10 years they’ve specialized in unique, small batch, hand-sewn books printed from a variety of modern and vintage printers. Their most recent is A Roof of Birds, by Susan Firer, and is available from Adjunct Press and Woodland Pattern. Call me biased, but I think Adjunct Press is effortlessly cool and creative.
Looking to read more on Adjunct Press and A Roof of Birds? Check out this article in OnMilwaukee.
