Nancy Cunard and The Hours Press. Parallax – A Skewered Angle on the History of Publishing

Abstract

This study aims to explore the artistic and cultural contributions of Nancy Cunard, a printer, publisher, and designer from the inter-war modernist era, with a focus on her work as a letterpress printer and her connection to Virginia Woolf. The research investigates how Cunard’s printing practice was influenced by Woolf’s pioneering efforts in setting up The Hogarth Press in 1917 and how Cunard, like Woolf, challenged established hierarchies and norms within the publishing industry, setting up her own The Hours Press in 1927.
The study also delves into the collaborative relationship between Woolf and Cunard, particularly in relation to the publication of Cunard’s poem Parallax, which Woolf typeset and published. It highlights the shared themes of their works, addressing the aftermath of World War I and the Spanish Flu, and challenges the notion that Cunard’s poem was merely a pale imitation of T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land. The research sheds light on the misogynistic devaluation of women’s contributions within the publishing industry.

Cunard’s memoirs, entitled These Were the Hours, serve as a comprehensive account of her involvement in printing and publishing. She sought to create aesthetically pleasing books while disregarding conventions, embracing experimentation, and following her own aesthetic instincts. Cunard’s printing practice reflected a punk-ish aesthetic, featuring rough bindings, expressive covers, and typographical and visual playfulness.

In conclusion, this study aims to bring recognition to Nancy Cunard’s often-overlooked artistic contributions and shed light on the historical significance of her printing practice. By examining Cunard’s work through the lens of graphic design and letterpress printing, the research contributes to a broader understanding of self-publishing history and its impact on contemporary artist books. The study highlights the parallel struggles faced by Woolf and Cunard within a patriarchal system and underscores the enduring relevance of their unconventional approaches to printing and publishing.