urn:taro:utexas.hrc.00399 Lysander Kemp: A Preliminary Inventory of His Translations and Correspondence Relating to Octavio Paz at the Harry Ransom Center Finding aid created by Delaney Hall and Daniel Harris Harry Ransom Center, 2006 Finding aid encoded by Jennifer Hecker, 24 June 2009 Finding aid written in English. The University of Texas at Austin, Harry Ransom Center Kemp, Lysander, 1920-1992 Lysander Kemp Translations and Correspondence Relating to Octavio Paz 1965-1979 3 boxes, 5 galley files (1.26 linear feet) Much of the Lysander Kemp collection, containing materials gathered by Kemp, documents his collaborations with Octavio Paz. The collection consists of correspondence between Kemp and Paz and manuscripts associated with the translation and publication of a number of Paz's poems and essays (1965-1979). English and Spanish Scope and Contents

Lysander Kemp (1920-1992) worked as a writer, professor, translator, and head editor of the University of Texas Press from 1966 to 1975. During this time, he collaborated on numerous translations with Mexican poet and essayist Octavio Paz (1914-1998). Kemp also oversaw the publication of two collections of Paz's essays and criticism.

Much of the Lysander Kemp collection, containing materials gathered by Kemp, documents his collaborations with Octavio Paz. The collection consists of correspondence between Kemp and Paz and manuscripts associated with the translation and publication of a number of Paz's poems and essays (1965-1979). The materials are arranged in three series: I. Correspondence, II. Translations, and III. Other Kemp Manuscripts. The materials are written in both Spanish and English.

The correspondence in Series I. is arranged in alphabetical order by the name of the correspondent. Three folders contain correspondence between Kemp and Paz, written between March 1965 and February 1978. Most of the letters concern translated works and note quibbles over diction and syntax, discussion of the intended effect of various poems, and suggestions for revision. Most of the works located in Series II. Translations are discussed in this correspondence. Other correspondence concerns business matters, such as publication timelines and book marketing. Some personal correspondence is also present, as Kemp and Paz were longtime friends. Also included is correspondence from other individuals involved with the publication of Kemp's translations of Paz, including professors and translators from numerous universities, publishers and editors from three small publishing presses, and other contemporary poets and authors, including poet Muriel Rukeyser.

Series II. contains both poetry and essay manuscripts, arranged in alphabetical order by title. Included are poems and essays by Octavio Paz, with accompanying translations by Lysander Kemp and Margaret Peden. Also present are several typescripts of The Bow and the Lyre and The Siren and the Seashell, galley proofs for The Bow and the Lyre, Conjunciones and The Siren and the Seashell, and a number of essays and poems authored by Lysander Kemp. Much of this work is discussed in the correspondence in Series I.

Series III, Other Kemp Manuscripts, contains poetry and essays, arranged in alphabetical order by title, and a folder of clippings and articles on Octavio Paz, arranged in chronological order.

 Acquisition:

Gifts, 1966-1979 (G376)

 Access:

Open for research

 Processed by:

Delaney Hall and Daniel Harris, 2006

Additional Octavio Paz material is present in the following manuscript collections at the Ransom Center: Anvil Press, Stanley Burnshaw, El Corno Emplumado, London Magazine, Christopher Middleton, Margaret Sayers Peden, Peter Owen Ltd., and Charles Tomlinson.

 Container List: Series I. Correspondence, 1965-1978 1.1 Crow, John, 1977 1.2 Grove Press, 1969-1970 1.3 Ivask, Ivar, 1969 1.4 Laughlin, James, 1967-1971 Paz, Octavio 1.5 1965-1966 1.6 1967-1968 1.7 1969-1978 1.8 Peden, Margaret "Petch," 1970-1975 1.9 Rukeyser, Muriel, 1967-1968 1.10 University of Texas Press, 1966-1976 1.11 Miscellaneous, 1968-1970 Series II. Translations Poetry 1.12 A-L 1.13 M-Z Essays 1.14 A 2.1-2* B (*galleys for "The Bow and the Lyre" removed to galley files) 2.3* C-L (*galleys for Conjunciones removed to galley files) 2.4 M-O 3.1-2 P 3.3* S [no T-Z] (*galleys for The Siren and the Seashell removed to galley files) Series III. Other Kemp Manuscripts 3.4 Essays 3.5 Poetry 3.6 Articles and clippings, 1965-1978 Index of Works Kemp, Lysander Arreola's Autobiography (essay)--3.4 Artillery Hill (poem)--3.5 The Cane Fields (poem)--3.5 Catarino Maravillas (poem)--3.5 The Conquest--3.5 La Conquista (poem)--1.5 Death of Refugio Godoy (poem)--3.5 Dithyrambic Elegy for Bolivar (poem)--3.5 The Family of the Night (poem)--3.5 The Fashions of La Libertad (poem)--3.5 Gods (poem)--3.5 Great Green (poem)--3.5 In Mexico (poem)--3.5 Metztli--3.5 The poetry of St. John of the Cross... (essay)--3.4 Remembering Cape Cod (poem)--3.5 Reveille (poem)--3.5 Simple Slumber (poem)--3.5 Song (poem)--3.5 Paz, Octavio Andre Breton: La Busqueda del Comienzo (essay)--1.14 The Balcony (poem)--1.5 The Bow and the Lyre: Essays (essays)--removed to galley file Brindaban (poem)--1.5 Carta a León Felipe (poem)--1.12 El Caso de Pasternak (essay)--2.3 Cochin (poem)--1.12 Conjunciones (essay)--removed to galley file Contigo (poem)--1.12 The Day in Udaipur (poem)--1.12 El Día en Udaipur (poem)--1.12 E.E. Cummings (essay)--2.3 Entrada en la Materia (poem)--1.12 Entrance into Matter (poem)--1.12 Felicidad en Herat (poem)--1.6 Happiness in Herat (poem)--1.6 Un Himno Moderno (essay)--2.3 El Jinete del Aire (essay)--2.3 La Linea Central (essay)--2.3 Literatura de Fundación (essay)--2.3 A Literature of Foundations (essay)--2.3 Mexico: the Last Decade (essay)--2.4 Mexico: Olimpiada de 1968 (poem)--1.6 Now (poem)--1.13 Perpetua Encarnada (poem)--1.13 Postdata (essay)--3.1 Presente (poem)--1.13 The Siren and the Seashell: Essays (essays)--3.3 Vrindaban (poem)--1.13 With You (poem)--1.12