Lola Ridge was an anarchist and feminist poet and editor. Born in Dublin,
Ireland, raised in Sydney and New Zealand, Ridge left her husband in around
1900 and studied painting with Peter Ashton in Sydney. She was already
writing poetry when she emigrated to the U.S., eventually settling in the
East Village. Ridge published five books of poetry: THE GHETTO (1919),
depicting Manhattan's lower east side; SUN-UP (1920), with a large section
in the voice of a young girl; RED FLAG (1927), which, while
pro-revolutionary in a qualified way, is really more anarchist in tone;
FIREHEAD, a long poem about Sacco and Vanzetti; and DANCE OF FIRE, with a
bunch of dreadful sonnets. She edited Margaret Sanger's magazine, the
Modern School's magazine, Broom, and Others.
As I have mentioned on this list, the first two books, in the public domain,
will be available shortly through Project Gutenberg. Additionally, RED
FLAG's copyright was not renewed, and I may make it available. I would be
more than happy to send the first two books as file attachments (.txt, .doc,
or .html -- please specify) to anyone requesting them backchannel
([log in to unmask]).
I am editing a section of HOW2 issue 8 on Lola Ridge, and especially seek
contributions from poets familiar with anarchist movements from the turn of
the century to the 1930's; the gold rush in New Zealand, and art schools in
Sydney and on the lower east side. I am also interested in receiving short
readings, reactions, or discussions by poets (especially political poets).
The scant writing about Ridge, however, focusses on her politics, and I
would be very interested in including writing which focusses on the poems.
Be well,
Catherine Daly
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