The Lascaux Notebooks

The oldest poetry discovered, as written down or runed in the Ice Age in Lascaux and other caves in the Dordogne, is collected in this newest Carcanet Classic and translated into English for the first time. Jean-Luc Champerret's French versions and Philip Terry's translations bring this seminal, hitherto unsuspected work to life. The translated poems are experiments, as the drawings may have been to the original cave poets composing them as image and sound.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 408 pages
Publication date: 28 April 2022
Publisher: Carcanet Press Ltd

This latest Carcanet Classic brings together the oldest poetry yet discovered, as written down or runed in the Ice Age in Lascaux and other caves in the Dordogne, and now translated – tentatively – into English for the first time. The translation is at two removes, from French versions by the enigmatic linguistic genius Jean-Luc Champerret, and then from the striking originals that retain such a sense of early human presence. Philip Terry mediates between the French and those hitherto inscrutable originals. Jean-Luc Champerret's unique contribution to world literature is in his interpretation of the cave signs. And Philip Terry's contribution is to have discovered and rendered this seminal, hitherto unsuspected work into English. The translated poems are experiments, as the drawings may have been to the original cave poets composing them as image and sound. While archaeologists maintain that these signs are uninterpretable, Champerret assigns them meanings by analogy, then – in an inspired act of creative reading – inserts them into the frequent 3 x 3 grids to be found at Lascaux. The results – the revelation of Ice-Age poetry – are startling.

Introduction:
The Carcanet Classic series is renowned for its commitment to publishing the finest poetry in English translation. In this latest edition, the reader is presented with a collection of ancient poetry that has been unearthed and translated for the first time. The poems, which were inscribed in the Ice Age in Lascaux and other caves in the Dordogne region, offer a unique glimpse into the minds and hearts of our prehistoric ancestors.

The Translation Process:
The translation of these ancient poems is a remarkable achievement. It began with the meticulous work of Jean-Luc Champerret, a renowned linguistic genius who translated the French versions of the poems. Champerret's interpretations shed light on the meanings and nuances of the original texts, providing a deeper understanding of the poetry.

The Original Poems:
The original poems themselves are a testament to the ingenuity and creativity of our ancient ancestors. They are written in a form of pictographic writing, which combines images and symbols to convey meaning. The drawings and symbols used in these poems are thought to have been used as a means of communication and self-expression by the cave poets who composed them.

Philip Terry's Contribution:
It is Philip Terry's contribution that truly sets this collection apart. Terry, a renowned poet and translator, has spent years studying and researching the ancient poetry of the Dordogne region. His dedication and expertise have resulted in the discovery and translation of this seminal The translated poems are experiments, as the drawings may have been to the original cave poets composing them as image and sound. While archaeologists maintain that these signs are uninterpretable, Champerret assigns.

Dimension: 216 x 135 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800171725