DAY 7 * PAUL MAZIAR * VALERY LARBAUD *

PAUL MAZIAR READS VALERY LARBAUD. VALERY LARBAUD was born in Vichy, Allier, the only child of a pharmacist. His father died when he was 8, and he was brought up by his mother and aunt. His father had been owner of the Vichy Saint-Yorre mineral water springs, and the family fortune assured him an easy life. He travelled Europe in style. On luxury liners and the Orient Express he carried off the dandy role, with spa visits to nurse fragile health.

Poèmes par un riche amateur, published in 1908, received Octave Mirbeau's vote for Prix Goncourt. Three years later, his novel Fermina Márquez, inspired by his days as a boarder at Sainte-Barbe-des-Champs at Fontenay-aux-Roses, had some Prix Goncourt votes in 1911.

He spoke six languages including English, Italian and Spanish. In France he helped translate and popularise Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Walt Whitman, Samuel Butler, and James Joyce, whose Ulysses was translated by Auguste Morel (1924-1929) under Larbaud's supervision. (from Wiki)

Paul Maziar's reads his poem here. first book was one of experimental prose, juxtaposed with the typographic, photographic designs of visual artist Maust. His first book of poems, Last Light of Day, was printed by Portland’s Publication Studio, and his brand new chapbook of poems, Little Advantages, will be released by Couch Press this winter. Paul co-curates a monthly reading series called The Switch, and his reveries and drawings can be found at andsotobegin.tumblr.com.