Fine Books & Manuscripts, including Americana

JOYCE, James (1882–1941). A pair of autograph letters signed (“James Joyce”) to Madame Yasushi Tanaka (Louise Gebhard Cann), 24 and 29 November 1920. 2 pages, 4to (248 x 191 mm) and 12mo (165 x 121 mm). With a portrait engraving to be framed with letters. IT CONTAINS THE WHOLE STORY OF THE DUBLINERS. The first letter, Joyce responds to a request from Ms. Cann that she be sent materials for her article and directs her to an acquaintance who will have more, adding at the end, “...I am sure he will let you have the copy of The Egoist (15 January 1913) which I lent him some time ago. It contains the whole story of The Dubliners. Sincerely yours, James Joyce.” The second letter is on blue correspondence card with perforated edges folded once and addressed in Joyce’s hand with canceled stamps, mailing fold. Joyce writes, “Dear Madam, In reply to your letter I shall call on you on Sunday afternoon next as it seems to be the most convenient time for you. Sincerely yours, James Joyce.” Louise Gebhard Cann was a prominent writer and art critic in early 20th century France. At Ezra Pound’s suggestion, Cann wrote to Joyce requesting an interview with him for an article on writers in France set to appear in an upcoming issue of The Pacific Review. Following publication of the “Nausicaa” episode of Ulysses in The Little Review the previous year Joyce’s writing was deemed obscene, with this issue of The Little Review effectively banned in the United States, and it is believed that because of the controversy the editors then decided to omit any mention of Joyce from the finished article published in the March 1921 issue of The Pacific Review. Ellman, James Joyce Letters III:31–32.