Vera Rich

Vera Rich
Vera Rich in 2006
Born Faith Elizabeth Rich
(1936-04-24)April 24, 1936
London, County of London
Died December 20, 2009(2009-12-20) (aged 73)
London, Greater London
Occupation poet, historian, translator, journalist, contributor to Nature, The Lancet, Index on Censorship, Physics World
Citizenship United Kingdom
Alma mater St Hilda's College, Oxford, Bedford College, London

Vera Rich (born Faith Elizabeth Rich, 24 April 1936, London – 20 December 2009, London[1]) was a British poet, journalist, historian, and translator from Belarusian and Ukrainian.

Biography

Born in London, she studied at St Hilda's College of the University of Oxford and Bedford College, London. In 1959, her poetry attracted the attention of the editors of John O'London's Weekly and the following year her first collection of verse, Outlines, was privately produced and received favourable reviews, selling out within six months.[2]

Her translations of the works of Taras Shevchenko, commissioned for the century of his death (1961), received excellent reviews, both in the West and in the Soviet Ukraine. For this work, Rich was awarded an Honorary Diploma in Shevchenko Studies by the Ukrainian Free Academy of Sciences.[2]

Later, influenced by Fr Ceslaus Sipovich, she started also translating Belarusian poetry. Her first translation from Belarusian was the poem "Na čužynie" by Janka Kupala. Her Like Water, Like Fire published in 1971 became the world's first anthology of translations of Belarusian poetry into a western European language. Later she published The Images Swarm Free, a collection of translations of verses by prominent Belarusian authors, Aleś Harun, Maksim Bahdanovič and Źmitrok Biadula.

Rich was the founder of Manifold, "the magazine of new poetry". It was started in 1962 and appeared regularly under her editorship until May 1969, when it was suspended owing to her taking a job as Soviet and East European Correspondent for the scientific weekly Nature. At the time of its suspension Manifold had close on 900 subscribers, almost half of them in the USA. This initially temporary job at Nature lasted for more than 20 years. It was only in 1998 that it proved possible to relaunch Manifold. All together, 49 issues were published under Rich's editorship. It published original high-quality poetry in traditional and innovative styles, in various variants of English, and — from time to time — in major European languages, as well as translations of poetry from less-known languages.

The ashes of Vera Rich were buried in Ukraine and in the Church of St Cyril of Turau and All the Patron Saints of the Belarusian People in London.

Bibliography

Books
  • Portents and Images: A Collection of Original Verse and Translations (London, 1963).
  • Like water, like fire: Anthology of Byelorussian poetry from 1828 to the present day (1971). ISBN 978-0-04-891041-7.
  • The images swarm free: A bilingual selection of poetry (1982). ISBN 978-0-929849-05-8.
  • Image of the Jew in Russian literature: The post-Stalin period (1984). ISBN 978-0-88125-062-6.
  • Poems on Liberty. Reflections for Belarus (2004). ISBN 0-929849-05-1
Articles
  • "Byelorussian national consciousness and Jewish tradition – Some examples of soviet editorial policy". Soviet Jewish Affairs. 1 (2): 80–89. November 1971. doi:10.1080/13501677108577098.
  • "Heroes and Jews in byelorussian literature". Soviet Jewish Affairs. 3 (1): 80–91. January 1973. doi:10.1080/13501677308577150.
  • "Vancouver boycott supports Plyushch". Nature. 251 (5472): 180. 20 September 1974. Bibcode:1974Natur.251..180R. doi:10.1038/251180a0.
  • "USSR: Plyushch says protest". Nature. 259 (5544): 520. 19 February 1976. Bibcode:1976Natur.259..520R. doi:10.1038/259520a0.
  • "Soviet dissidents: he who would dissident be". Nature. 263 (5576): 361–362. 30 September 1976. Bibcode:1976Natur.263..361R. doi:10.1038/263361a0.
  • "USSR: bottling up dissent. Reports on recent developments concerning dissidents in the USSR and Eastern Europe". Nature. 264 (5586): 501–502. 9 December 1976. Bibcode:1976Natur.264..501R. doi:10.1038/264501a0.
  • "USSR: discrediting the dissidents". Nature. 269 (5624): 100. 8 September 1977. Bibcode:1977Natur.269..100R. doi:10.1038/269100a0.
  • "Leading Soviet dissidents in London". Nature. 270 (5635): 290. 24 November 1977. Bibcode:1977Natur.270R.290R. doi:10.1038/270290b0.
  • "Stalin's scientific deputy addresses dissident meeting". Nature. 270 (5638): 550. 15 December 1977. Bibcode:1977Natur.270..550R. doi:10.1038/270550a0.
  • "Shcharanskii may soon be brought to trial-without a lawyer". Nature. 271 (5641): 104–105. 12 January 1978. Bibcode:1978Natur.271..104R. doi:10.1038/271104a0.
  • "Yurii Orlov suffers two trials". Nature. 273 (5659): 178. 18 May 1978. Bibcode:1978Natur.273..178R. doi:10.1038/273178a0.
  • "Americans cancel visits in protest over Orlov". Nature. 273 (5660): 258. 25 May 1978. Bibcode:1978Natur.273..258R. doi:10.1038/273258a0.
  • "Shcharanskii trial delayed again, others exiled". Nature. 274 (5666): 6. 6 July 1978. Bibcode:1978Natur.274....6R. doi:10.1038/274006b0.
  • "A day in the life of Yurii Orlov". Nature. 277 (5698): 591. 22 February 1979. Bibcode:1979Natur.277Q.591R. doi:10.1038/277591a0.
  • "Soviet dissident charged". Nature. 279 (5710): 178. 17 May 1979. Bibcode:1979Natur.279..178R. doi:10.1038/279178b0.
  • "Soviet academics: three deprived". Nature. 292 (5826): 789. 27 August 1981. Bibcode:1981Natur.292..789R. doi:10.1038/292789a0.
  • "Soviet dissidents: helpers divided". Nature. 295 (5849): 450. 11 February 1982. Bibcode:1982Natur.295R.450R. doi:10.1038/295450c0.
  • "Soviet human rights: one-way trip for Sakharov?". Nature. 303 (5913): 106. 12 May 1983. Bibcode:1983Natur.303..106R. doi:10.1038/303106c0.
  • "Soviet Union: Orlov's fate in balance". Nature. 307 (5952): 585. 16 February 1984. Bibcode:1984Natur.307Q.585R. doi:10.1038/307585a0.
  • "Orlov appeal". Nature. 307 (5953): 673. 23 February 1984. Bibcode:1984Natur.307..673R. doi:10.1038/307673b0.
  • "Soviet academy: winds of change discerned". Nature. 314 (6009): 307. 28 March 1985. Bibcode:1985Natur.314Q.307R. doi:10.1038/314307a0.
  • "Sakharov: resignation from Soviet academy". Nature. 315 (6016): 169. 16 May 1985. Bibcode:1985Natur.315..169R. doi:10.1038/315169b0.
  • "Refusnik scientists: dissenting dissidents agree". Nature. 319 (6050): 169. 16 January 1986. Bibcode:1986Natur.319..169R. doi:10.1038/319169b0.
  • "Shcharanskii release triggers hopes". Nature. 319 (6055): 611. 20 February 1986. Bibcode:1986Natur.319..611R. doi:10.1038/319611b0.
  • "Soviet Union: freedom at last for Orlov". Nature. 323 (6088): 478. 9 October 1986. Bibcode:1986Natur.323..478R. doi:10.1038/323478a0.
  • "Warning from Soviet psychiatrist on doubtful practices". Nature. 327 (6120): 264. 28 May 1987. Bibcode:1987Natur.327..264R. doi:10.1038/327264b0. PMID 3587343.
  • "Sakharov work acknowledged". Nature. 331 (6156): 468. 11 February 1988. Bibcode:1988Natur.331..468R. doi:10.1038/331468c0.
  • "Soviet worries about nuclear safety after Chernobyl". Nature. 334 (6181): 373. 4 August 1988. Bibcode:1988Natur.334..373R. doi:10.1038/334373a0. PMID 3405282.
  • "Scandal over Soviet artificial blood research project". Nature. 335 (6186): 107. 8 September 1988. Bibcode:1988Natur.335..107R. doi:10.1038/335107a0. PMID 3412465.
  • "Sakharov to stand for Supreme Soviet?". Nature. 336 (6195): 97. 10 November 1988. Bibcode:1988Natur.336...97R. doi:10.1038/336097b0.
  • "Whose tongues are tied?". Index on Censorship. 18 (5): 31. May 1989. doi:10.1080/03064228908534648.
  • "Soviet Union: Grigorenko "of sound mind"". The Lancet. 338 (8776): 1159–1222. 9 November 1991. doi:10.1016/0140-6736(91)92050-C.
  • "Soviet Union admits to abuses of psychiatry". New Scientist. 132 (1795): 13. 16 November 1991. PMID 16041887.
  • "East-west links: Sakharov college struggles on". Physics World. 6 (8): 9. 1993. doi:10.1088/2058-7058/6/8/7.
  • "Collaborations: Russian roulette". Physics World. 7 (9): 12. 1994. doi:10.1088/2058-7058/7/9/14.
  • "Nuclear Power: North Korean progress ends in deadlock". Physics World. 7 (10): 13. 1994. doi:10.1088/2058-7058/7/10/17.
  • "Never mind the language". Index on Censorship. 24 (2): 12–13. March 1995. doi:10.1080/03064229508535886.
  • "Serbian trichinosis row". The Lancet. 345 (8957): 1104. 29 April 1995. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(95)90834-x.
  • "Chernobyl nine years on". The Lancet. 345 (8958): 1168. 6 May 1995. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(95)90994-x.
  • "China's law on maternal and infant health". The Lancet. 345 (8963): 1497–1498. 10 June 1995. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(95)91045-x.
  • "Poland's anti-abortion law and a fertility clinic". The Lancet. 345 (8964): 1563. 17 June 1995. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(95)91102-2.
  • "Criminal charges against Bosnian Serb doctors". The Lancet. 346 (8966): 45. 1 July 1995. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(95)92670-4.
  • "Cholera in Ukraine". The Lancet. 346 (8966): 42. 1 July 1995. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(95)92663-1.
  • "Poland pursues market-oriented health reforms". The Lancet. 346 (8968): 173. 15 July 1995. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(95)91223-1.
  • "Ukraine's environmental plea after sewage leak". The Lancet. 346 (8969): 242. 22 July 1995. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(95)91288-6.
  • "Latvia ceases to provide free health care". The Lancet. 346 (8972): 433. 12 August 1995. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(95)92800-6.
  • "Hitch in implementing Russia's HIV-prevention law". The Lancet. 346 (8972): 432. 12 August 1995. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(95)92797-2.
  • "Japanese war-time experiments come to light". The Lancet. 346 (8974): 566. 26 August 1995. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(95)91396-3.
  • "New Polish transplant law passed". The Lancet. 346 (8975): 628. 2 September 1995. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(95)91447-1.
  • "Church condemns contraception promotion in Peru". The Lancet. 346 (8979): 894. 30 September 1995. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(95)92724-7.
  • "Czech doctors strike over pay and health system". The Lancet. 346 (8985): 1288. 11 November 1995. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(95)91879-5.
  • "Poland's first case on abortion law inconclusive". The Lancet. 346 (8986): 1356. 18 November 1995. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(95)92360-8.
  • "First college for disabled opens in Russia". The Lancet. 346 (8990): 1622. 16 December 1995. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(95)91951-1.
  • "Russia plans to raise tax on imported pharmaceuticals". The Lancet. 347 (8993): 52. 6 January 1996. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(96)91578-0.
  • "Influenza epidemic in Russia likely to stay". The Lancet. 347 (8995): 182. 20 January 1996. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(96)90353-0.
  • "China plans tighter pharmaceutical controls". The Lancet. 347 (8996): 255. 27 January 1996. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(96)90428-6.
  • "Russia to start anti-poliomyelitis vaccination campaign". The Lancet. 347 (8997): 319. 3 February 1996. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(96)90489-4.
  • "Alopecia in Ukraine due to heavy metals?". The Lancet. 347 (9000): 528. 24 February 1996. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(96)91150-2.
  • "Bulgarian doctors' unrest increases". The Lancet. 347 (9002): 683. 9 March 1996. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(96)91230-1.
  • "Hitches in implementing organ-donation law in Poland". The Lancet. 347 (9003): 754. 16 March 1996. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(96)90099-9.
  • "Czech doctors call for health reforms". The Lancet. 347 (9006): 964. 6 April 1996. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(96)91444-0.
  • "Diphtheria penalty in Ukraine?". The Lancet. 347 (9007): 1038. 13 April 1996. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(96)90175-0.
  • "Georgia's public-health problems "concealed"". The Lancet. 347 (9007): 1037. 13 April 1996. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(96)90170-1.
  • "Chernobyl's dirty legacy lives on". The Lancet. 347 (9009): 1178. 27 April 1996. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(96)90630-3.
  • "Should Belarus be resettled yet?". The Lancet. 347 (9010): 1251. 4 May 1996. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(96)90757-6.
  • "Diphtheria vaccination fails in Ukraine". The Lancet. 347 (9016): 1686. 15 June 1996. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(96)91510-x.
  • a (17 August 1996). "Turkmenistan pushes forward public health". The Lancet. 348 (9025): 469. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(05)64556-4.
  • "Mongolia fights cholera". The Lancet. 348 (9026): 538. 24 August 1996. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(05)64685-5.
  • "Ukraine's diphtheria campaign". The Lancet. 348 (9036): 1245. 2 November 1996. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(05)65521-3.
  • "Grave matters". Index on Censorship. 26 (6): 164–165. November 1997. doi:10.1080/03064229708536279.
  • "Watch this space". Index on Censorship. 28 (3): 89–93. May 1999. doi:10.1080/03064229908536592.
  • "Who is Ukraine?". Index on Censorship. 30 (4): 144–149. October 2001. doi:10.1080/03064220108536988.
  • "The unquiet grave". Index on Censorship. 31 (4): 59–62. October 2002. doi:10.1080/03064220208537137.
  • "The price of return". Index on Censorship. 32 (2): 82–86. April 2003. doi:10.1080/03064220308537216.

Notes

  1. ↑ Vidal-Hall, Judith (8 January 2010). "Obituary: Vera Rich". Index on Censorship.
  2. 1 2 Rich, Vera. "Portents and Images". London, 1963 [blurb].
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