Tears in the Fence

Tears in the Fence is a British literary journal founded in November 1984 by the poet and writer David Caddy and Harry Seccombe. It began as a literary magazine connected to the Green Movement, with an editorial outlook shaped by ecological and feminist concerns. Sarah Hopkins, then Literary Editor of Spare Rib and a co-author of Greenham Common: Women at the Wire, joined the project soon after its founding. From that starting point, the journal developed into an internationally oriented publication focused on contemporary poetry, prose, criticism, and literary debate. The journal has been described as forward-looking and willing to take risks, and as representing an important edge of modern poetry. Its editorial identity combines literary experimentation with an interest in political, social, ecological, and cultural questions. Rather than operating solely as a national poetry review, Tears in the Fence built connections with writers and editors outside the United Kingdom, including contributors in the United States, Paris, and Melbourne. This international orientation became one of its defining characteristics. The publication has played a notable role in introducing American poets and writers to British readers. It was described as the first United Kingdom magazine to publish a number of American poets and writers, including Sheila E. Murphy, Gerald Locklin, Ed Ochester, Donna Hilbert, and Fred Voss, while also regularly publishing Edward Field and Paul Violi. Its contributor base has also included poets associated with the British Poetry Revival, such as Lee Harwood, Iain Sinclair, Bill Griffiths, John James, Jeremy Reed, Barry MacSweeney, and Peter Riley. Brian Hinton has been identified as an associate editor. Tears in the Fence is published three times a year. Its editorial and reviewing network has included writers and critics such as David Caddy, Sarah Hopkins, Tom Chivers, Jennifer K. Dick, Kat Peddie, Morag Kiziewicz, Ian Brinton, Andrew Duncan, Steve Spence, Mandy Pannett, Norman Jope, Jeremy Hilton, Sheila Hamilton, Isobel Armstrong, Lesley Saunders, Fiona Owen, John Freeman, Mary Woodward, Nathaniel Tarn, Ian Seed, John Welch, Rosie Jackson, Robert Sheppard, Ric Hool, Frances Spurrier, Richard Forman, and Peter Hughes. These contributors reflect the journal's broad engagement with poetry, experimental writing, reviewing, and literary criticism. The journal's continuing significance rests on its combination of independent editorial direction, international literary exchange, and support for writers working beyond mainstream publishing conventions. It is best understood as a specialist literary publication rather than a mass-market magazine or a conventional commercial media brand. Publicly available reference material identifies David Caddy as its editor and presents Tears in the Fence as an internationally flavoured journal of distinction.

Tears in the Fence was established in November 1984 by English poet and writer David Caddy and Harry Seccombe. The project was conceived as a literary magazine associated with the Green Movement, and its earliest editorial perspective was informed by ecological and feminist ideas. Sarah Hopkins joined the publication soon afterward. Her background included work as Literary Editor of Spare Rib and collaboration on Greenham Common: Women at the Wire, a book published by the Women's Press in 1984. Although the journal began with a clear political and ecological context, its remit expanded as its editorial thinking developed. It built an international outlook and readership, with editorial contributors connected to the United States, Paris, and Melbourne. The journal's internationalism was particularly visible in its publication of American poets and writers for British readers. It was identified as the first United Kingdom magazine to publish writers including Sheila E. Murphy, Gerald Locklin, Ed Ochester, Donna Hilbert, and Fred Voss, and it also regularly featured Edward Field and Paul Violi. Alongside its international connections, Tears in the Fence became associated with poets linked to the British Poetry Revival. Its regular or recurring contributors included Lee Harwood, Iain Sinclair, Bill Griffiths, John James, Jeremy Reed, Barry MacSweeney, and Peter Riley. Brian Hinton served as an associate editor. The journal's reviewing and critical network extended across a substantial group of poets, critics, and literary commentators, including Andrew Duncan, Steve Spence, Mandy Pannett, Norman Jope, Jeremy Hilton, Sheila Hamilton, Isobel Armstrong, Lesley Saunders, Fiona Owen, John Freeman, Mary Woodward, Nathaniel Tarn, Ian Seed, John Welch, Rosie Jackson, Robert Sheppard, Ric Hool, Frances Spurrier, Richard Forman, Peter Hughes, and Ian Brinton. The publication is issued three times per year and has been characterized as a risk-taking, forward-looking magazine operating at the cutting edge of modern poetry. Its editorial model emphasizes specialist literary culture rather than mass circulation, bringing together poetry, experimental writing, reviews, and broader literary discussion. David Caddy is identified as its editor. The available reference material does not establish a separate corporate parent, ownership structure, headquarters, circulation figure, financial information, or a confirmed official web address.

• 1984

  Tears in the Fence is founded

  [1]Tears in the Fenceen.wikipedia.org

  David Caddy and Harry Seccombe establish the journal in November as a literary magazine associated with the Green Movement.

• 1984

  Sarah Hopkins joins the project

  [1]Tears in the Fenceen.wikipedia.org

  Sarah Hopkins becomes involved soon after the journal's founding, bringing experience from Spare Rib and politically engaged feminist publishing.

• International literary network develops

  [1]Tears in the Fenceen.wikipedia.org

  The journal expands beyond its original British context and develops editorial and contributor links in the United States, France, and Australia.

• American writers receive early United Kingdom magazine exposure

  [1]Tears in the Fenceen.wikipedia.org

  Tears in the Fence publishes a range of American poets and writers, including Sheila E. Murphy, Gerald Locklin, Ed Ochester, Donna Hilbert, and Fred Voss.

An independent, internationally oriented literary journal centered on contemporary poetry, experimental writing, literary criticism, and socially engaged cultural inquiry.

• Literary journal · 1984

  Tears in the Fence journal

  The journal's principal offering is a triannual literary periodical devoted to contemporary poetry, experimental writing, literary criticism, and reviews. It has published British and international writers, with a particular record of presenting American poets to United Kingdom readers and supporting poets associated with the British Poetry Revival. Its editorial identity combines literary experimentation with ecological, feminist, internationalist, and socially engaged perspectives.

1. 1Tears in the Fenceen.wikipedia.org