Meary James Thurairajah Tambimuttu
1 portrait of Meary James Thurairajah Tambimuttu
© Edward Lucie-Smith / National Portrait Gallery, London
Meary James Thurairajah Tambimuttu
by Edward Lucie-Smith
bromide print, circa 1970
11 3/4 in. x 8 in. (299 mm x 203 mm)
Acquired from (John) Edward McKenzie Lucie-Smith, before 1974
Photographs Collection
NPG x26695
Sitterback to top
- Meary James Thurairajah Tambimuttu (1915-1983), Poet and editor. Sitter in 1 portrait.
Artistback to top
- (John) Edward McKenzie Lucie-Smith (1933-), Art critic and writer. Artist or producer of 29 portraits, Sitter in 3 portraits.
Events of 1970back to top
Current affairs
Edward 'Ted' Heath wins a surprise victory for the Conservative party at the general election, becoming Prime Minister. Opinion polls had predicted a comfortable Labour victory, but with a failing economy, the Tories snatched a narrow last minute majority.Art and science
Germaine Greer publishes The Female Eunuch, an influential feminist text arguing that women's sexuality and capacity for action are repressed by the family and their roles in society. Greer suggested that women should get to know their bodies and become empowered by their sexuality. The book was an international best seller.International
Four aircraft are hijacked by Palestinian terrorists. The planes were landed in Cairo, Jordan and London and the hijackers demanded the release of Political Prisoners in exchange for the hostages. Several prisoners were returned and three of the planes were blown up after most of the hostages were release.Four students are shot dead by national guardsmen during a protest against the Vietnam War in America.
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RAVIN TAMBIMUTTU
18 October 2019, 10:28
Meary James Thurairajah Tambimuttu (15 August 1915 – 23 June 1983) was a Sri Lankan Tamil poet, editor, critic and publisher, who for many years played a significant part on the literary scenes of London and New York City. He founded in 1939 the respected literary magazine Poetry London, which "soon became the best known poetry periodical in England, and Tambimuttu became widely known as a skillful editor."[1] Four issues of Poetry London–New York were published in the 1950s; the fifth in 1960. Among those published by Tambimuttu were Lawrence Durrell, Kathleen Raine, W. H. Auden, Gavin Ewart, Jack Kerouac, Gregory Corso, Allen Ginsberg, Roy Campbell, Robin Skelton, Keith Douglas, and many other notable writers.[2] In 1955 Tambimuttu was described by The New York Times as "probably the best-known contemporary Sri Lankan Tamil poet". He created two publishing houses, Editions Poetry London (established in 1943) and Lyrebird Press (1968), both of which published major works.
In 1943, Tambimuttu commissioned the young artist Lucian Freud to illustrate a book of poems by Nicholas Moore entitled The Glass Tower. It was published the following year by Editions Poetry London and comprised, among other drawings, a stuffed zebra and a palm tree.