Ex Tempore (Magazine)

Right, let's get this over with. You want me to rewrite this… thing. Wikipedia, is it? A repository of facts, supposedly. Let's see if we can inject some semblance of life into it, shall we? Don't expect sunshine and rainbows.

This article is about the literary magazine. For the short story by Damon Knight, see Extempore.

Literary magazine in Switzerland

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Ex Tempore is a literary magazine that emerges annually from the United Nations Society of Writers. [1] Its inception dates back to 1989, the same year the society itself was established. [2][3] To date, there have been 34 issues, with the most recent gracing the shelves in 2023. [4]

The magazine’s scope is ambitious, encompassing short stories, essays, poems, and plays. What sets it apart, perhaps, is its dedication to the six official languages of the United Nations: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. [1] Presiding over this multilingual literary endeavor as editor-in-chief is Alfred de Zayas, a former president of the Society of Writers. [4]

Editions

Volume 19: 2008 was designated the International Year of Languages, a theme that Ex Tempore embraced wholeheartedly. This issue, a substantial 148 pages, featured poetry, short stories, and drama from 43 authors, spanning an impressive 14 languages, even including Latin. A testament to the breadth of human expression, I suppose.
Volume 20: Following suit, this edition comprised 160 pages and showcased works in 13 languages, notably including Hebrew and Esperanto. A rather eclectic mix, one might say.
Volume 21: Dedicated to "music, the international language," this issue clocked in at 104 pages and was released in December 2010. A noble sentiment, though one wonders if music truly transcends all linguistic barriers.
Volume 22: Released in December 2011, this 168-page volume was dedicated to the venerable Jean-Jacques Rousseau. [5] A figure of considerable intellectual weight, though his ideas, like many others, have been subject to endless interpretation and misinterpretation.
Volume 23: This edition focused its attention on the Human Right to Peace. A rather optimistic theme, given the perpetual state of the world.
Volume 24: A curious juxtaposition, this volume was dedicated to the bicentennial of Verdi and Wagner, alongside themes of swans, cows, and love. One can only imagine the literary leaps required to connect such disparate subjects. It spanned 158 pages.
Volume 25: Celebrating a quarter-century of the UN writers' society, this issue was a substantial 184 pages. A milestone, I suppose.
Volume 26: This edition turned its gaze towards the environment, touching upon COP21 and the concept of reconciliation. It ran to 168 pages. The planet seems to be a recurring concern, as well it should be.
Volume 27: Focusing on the history of poetry and poetic correspondence, this issue offered 172 pages. A deep dive into the art of words, perhaps.
Volume 28: A diverse collection, this volume covered the International Day of Happiness, music, populism, and featured an interview with Jean Ziegler. It was 168 pages long. An odd assortment, but then again, reality often is.
Volume 29: This edition delved into essays on law and justice, fake news, fake history, fake law, fake diplomacy, and fake democracy, alongside powerful new poems. At 168 pages, it seems to address the prevailing maladies of our age.
Volume 30: Published in 2019, this issue, spanning 180 pages, drew content from essay-writing, poetry, and blogging workshops held at the UN library on September 27th. A snapshot of contemporary literary endeavors.
Volume 31: This edition, 168 pages, explored themes of confinement, lockdown, and the coronavirus, alongside a historical section in Russian dedicated to Peter I Romanov. The UN staff magazine, The New Special, even published an article by Marko Stanovic on "literature during confinement," reviewing the essays and poems within this issue. [6] A rather timely subject, wouldn't you agree?
Volume 32: A richly illustrated 148-page volume featuring essays, short stories, poetry, and aphorisms. It continued its Russian section on Peter I Romanov.
Volume 33: This 156-page issue presented essays, short stories, poetry, and aphorisms, with a significant focus on the Ukraine war and pleas for peace. The illustrations, for once, were in color. A grim reflection, but perhaps a necessary one.
Volume 34: This edition commemorates the centenary of Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods" and Rainer Maria Rilke's "Sonnets to Orpheus," even including a translation of a strophe from Sonnet XIX. It also references Maria Callas, who would have turned 100 in December 2023. A nod to artistic legacies.
Volume 35: A substantial 160-page offering, this volume presents a "bouquet" of essays and poetry from 44 UN staffers. It’s written in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese, and it calls for "Peace on Earth, good will to all humanity." A sentiment, if not always a reality.

Special events

On October 5, 2008, Ex Tempore hosted a memorial lecture for Mahmoud Darwish, the recently deceased Palestinian poet. His poems were read aloud in Arabic, English, and French translation. [Citation needed] A fitting tribute, one imagines.
The magazine has a tradition of hosting salons. On January 23, 2009, one such event drew 52 attendees. The 14th annual salon followed on January 22, 2010, with 73 participants, and the 15th on January 21, 2011. [Citation needed] These seem to be regular gatherings.
January 22, 2010: The 14th annual salon.
January 21, 2011: The 15th annual salon.
January 20, 2012: The 16th annual salon.
June 28, 2012: A workshop dedicated to Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
January 25, 2013: The 17th annual salon.
January 24, 2014: The 18th annual salon. [7]
August 14, 2014: A celebration marking 25 years of the UNSW at the Press Bar, Palais des Nations.
October 14, 2014: The UN Library hosted an event commemorating 25 years of Ex Tempore. [8][9]
January 23, 2015: The 19th annual salon saw 63 poets and essayists in attendance.
January 22, 2016: The 20th annual salon drew 61 participants.
November 16, 2016: A conference and concert featuring Eric Noyer and Marie Neeser. [Citation needed]
January 20, 2017: The 21st annual salon, with 54 in the audience and 17 readers.
January 26, 2018: The 22nd annual salon, with 56 in the audience and 15 readers.
January 25, 2019: The 23rd annual salon, with 59 in the audience and 14 readers.
September 27, 2019: A celebration of the 30th anniversary of the UNSW and Ex Tempore at the UN Library. [10]
September 24, 2020: The 24th annual salon, held with 48 in the audience and 15 readers, presenting works in English, French, German, Latin, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
June 27, 2021: Due to the cancellation of the 25th annual salon because of COVID-19, a "literary tea" was held outdoors in the garden, with 15 participants reading in the six UN languages. A workaround for trying times.
June 25, 2022: With the annual salon again cancelled, a second "literary tea" was organized outdoors, this time featuring 16 participants reading in the six UN languages. Adapting to circumstances.
January 27, 2023: The traditional January salon was revived, with contributions in English, French, and Spanish. A return to form.
February 9, 2024: The January salon saw 31 UN writers participate, with 18 of them reading their poems and short stories.
January 24, 2025: The 30th iteration of the traditional salon was celebrated, with 36 participants and readings in Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.

Notable contributors

Nedd Willard [Citation needed]
David Walters [11]

Reference numbers

ISSN 1020-6604 • OCLC 34360356