1346
September 17th 1917
Dear Mr. Joyce
The printers I spoke of are setting up your novel and I think it very
unlikely that the same disaster will occur again for they yielded to
persuasion and made no deletions during the year in which they printed the
New Freewoman and Egoist. They say that the
proofs will be ready in the third of or [folls. del. of] fourth
week in October. Will you be satisfied if I read them through very carefully
using your corrections for reference? This would save some weeks' delay.
Also the nearer it gets to Christmas the busier the binders will be. I am
afraid there would be difficulties in the way of having a small number
printed and bound first.
Mr. Symons[1] writes that he
received no letter from you but got the book which he "admires greatly".
I expect it was because you had not the correct address for the book was
returned in the first instance by the post office. I looked out [sic] the
address in a directory and sent it again. The right address is Island Cottage,
Wittersham, Kent.
I wrote some weeks ago to the bookseller Ebell asking him if he was
willing to take the books at the increased price and I suggested sending him
as a start seven (which are charged at the price of six and a half). He has
not replied but I will reserve seven a little while longer though there are
only nine other copies left and these have already been ordered by a shop
that has had a large number of copies "on sale or return" and has disposed
of them all. The bookseller, Mr. Frank Albert, now asks if you will sign
your other two books copies of which he is getting and he offers a fee of
half a guinea for the two. As you signed your novel I will send these two
when they come though perhaps you will not be fit to sign them at once.
Please deduct this second half guinea also from the balance on your account
for the third dozen copies of your book. Mr. Pound asked me to send you
a copy of Prufrock and I will send it at the same time.
I am much obliged to Mrs Joyce for her cards and for the copy of the
Semaine Litteraire with the notice of your book. I am sorry
to
hear that your recovery is so slow. You must have had a dreadful time. I
shall hope to hear better news of you. | With kind regards | Yours
sincerely
