Forty-fourth Issue

Amsterdam Quarterly received a record number of submissions for its forty-fourth issue, whose theme is Between Hope & Despair. AQ44 brought in work that was chosen in four genres: poetry, fiction, memoir, and reviews. This work came from nine men and nine women, from six countries, in three continents. Their work covers people and conflicts, both ancient and modern or personal and social, including struggles with physical or mental health, upbringing, marital or immigration status, war, crime, or the changing climate.

Headlining this issue are memoirs by Lucinda Guard Crofton and your editor about their struggles to become writers and journalists in trying times. Unforgettable stories about the death of a close relative, bad relationships, breakups, and Alzheimer’s were sent in by Caleb Coy, Madhumati Dutta, Mary Granfield, Ross McQueen, and Guy Russell. There is also heart-rending poetry by Jane Blanchard, Simon Brod, Andy Craven-Griffiths, Allyson Dowling, Jennifer L. Freed, Claudia Gary, Hollis Kurman, Monique van Maare, Marcus Slingsby, Dick Westerheimer, and Mantz Yorke.

Rounding out this issue are reviews of two exciting new books by former AQ contributors: Jennifer Clark’s Intercede: Saints for Concerning Occasions and Amlanjyoti Goswami’s A Different Story.

Enjoy !