1350
July 6th 1919
Dear Mr. Joyce
Thanks for the letter received yesterday.[1] I think it not impossible that Mr.
Grant
Richards, on account of the striking reception of your first novel and
because your book Ulysses has been championed by the
Times (I expect you had the cutting), would be willing to
publish Ulysses; and if you would like him to see as much of
it as is in typescript I hope you will say so and not feel bound to let the
Egoist have it. If, however, you do give us the refusals [?]
we
shall be very glad to have the publishing of the book and I think we could
get it printed in London. After the last number of the Egoist
came out (in April) our printers gave us notice, chiefly, though not entirely,
on account of Ulysses.[2]
I have since made arrangements with another firm and they are bringing out
the next number this week. Half of the sixth episode will appear in it; the
other half in the following
number. After that the paper is probably to be suspended for a time, partly
in order to allow Miss Marsden some free time in which to prepare her
philosophical series for publication in book form, and partly in order to
develop our book publishing venture.[3] I remember mentioning this new
firm in
a previous letter: the manager, a Roman Catholic Irishman, had been much
interested in your first novel. He has now seen the first ten chapters of
Ulysses and so far as he can judge from these will be willing
to print the complete text.
It is difficult to know what to say about your suggestion that the book
when it is finished be issued in a paper cover at a price equivalent to that
current in France. I hear that English publishers are contemplating the
issuing of novels in paper covers but I do not suppose that even so the price
will be reduced to that of France for in this country the heaviest expense
now of a long book is the setting up of the type — and at present
also the
paper; binding is a smaller item. Miss Marsden had made an opposite
suggestion. On the theory that a book should be priced according to the
worth of its contents she would like to put the price of
Ulysses
at a high figure and had proposed 10/6 — (some novels are selling
here
for 9/—).[4] I do not think that
practicable but perhaps this matter could be decided nearer the time of
publication when the expenses of publication may have altered. I hope that
Mr. Huebsch will keep to his intention of
coming to London soon: I had a letter from him too. Mr. Aldington[5] has told me
vaguely something about the worries of which you speak.
[6] I am very glad to know that the
friendly
energy of Mr. Huebsch has lessened them.
Mr. Pound sent me the Sirens episode a little time ago. I think I can
see that your writing has been affected to some extent by your worries; I
mean that this episode seems to me not quite to reach your usual pitch of
intensity. I hope you are able to make progress now with the Cyclops
episode. I hope too that your health will improve when you leave what is
to you the unhealthy climate of Zurich and that you will have less trouble
with your eyes.
Perhaps I had better add that it was I who sent the message through
Messrs Monro, Saw and Co, and that I am sorry I sent it in the way and
in the form I did.[7] It is rather
paralysing to communicate through solicitors. I fear you will have to
withdraw all words about delicacy and self effacement: I can only beg you
to forgive my lack of them. | With kind regards | yours sincerely
