James Joyce and F.J.C. Skeffington | Two essays, 1901, first edition

James Joyce

Two Essays. "A Forgotten Aspect of the University Question" by F.J.C. Skeffington and "The Day of the Rabblement" by James A. Joyce. Dublin: Gerrard Bros., [1901]

FIRST EDITION, 8vo, one of approximately 85 copies, original pink printed wrappers, rust marks from original staples

A FINE COPY OF AN EARLY JOYCE RARITY. With the exception of Eh tu, Healy! (of which no copy is known to exist), this volume - printed after both articles were rejected for publication in the University College Dublin magazine, St Stephen's - is Joyce's first appearance in book form and his second appearance in print (after 'Ibsen's New Drama' in Fortnightly Review in April 1900). Skeffington was a pacifist, feminist, and vegetarian; Joyce dubbed him 'Hairy Jaysus' and considered him the cleverest man at the university - after himself. Skeffington was killed in the Easter Uprising of 1916.

Slocum and Cahoon cite a publication figure with reference to a Ulysses Bookshop catalogue from 1933. The figure is repeated by Ellmann.

LITERATURE:

Slocum & Cahoon B1

PROVENANCE:

Francis Skeffington; by family descent