Uncollected Prose of James Stephens: Volume 2, 1916–48

182 Pages·1983·15.104 MB·English

by  Patricia A. McFate (eds.)

UNCOLLECTED PROSE OF JAMES STEPHENS
Volume 2, 1916-48
James Stephens was an adventurous writer, exploring all the
territories of prose. He wrote fiction, essays, radio scripts, literary
reviews, drama, journalistic reports as well as other forms of
literature.
His career began in 1907 with a modest essay in an Irish
nationalist journal, and proceeded for forty-three years until the last
of his broadcasts on the BBC shortly before his death at his home in
London in 1950. During this period, Stephens progressed from
talented amateur to highly-regarded professional, from an un
known essayist to a prominent writer, and from an author of printed
works to a popular radio commentator. While his career progi-essed,
his reputation as an artist increased to the point where he enjoyed
the admiration ofW. B. Yeats, Lady Gregory, George Moore and
George Russell and where his abilities persuaded James Joyce to ask
him to complete Finnegans Wake if Joyce could not do so.
While these two volumes are by no means a complete collection of
Stephens' prose, this is the first time his work has been collected in
this way and the pieces are carefully chosen to demonstrate the
development of his artistic craftmanship. Readers of this edition
who may know Stephens as the beloved author of The Crock oJGold,
The Charwoman's Daughter and other novels, can observe him in a
variety of other roles: as political journalist, dramatist, speaker,
critic, and storyteller.
The editor
Patricia A. McFate is President of the American-Scandinavian
Foundation in New York. Her previous appointments have in
cluded Deputy Chairman of the National Endowment for the
Humanities, Vice Provost of the University of Penns ylvania and she
has taught at City College of New York, Northwestern University,
and the Universities of Illinois and Pennsylvania. She has held
scientific appointments in the College of Physicians and Surgeons
and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences of Columbia
University and Rush Medical College and is a Fellow of the New
York Academy of Sciences.
Dr. McFate is the author of The Writings oj James Stephens:
Variations on a Theme oj Love.
Also by Patricia A. McFate
THE DREAM PHYSICIAN by Edward Martyn (editor)
EDUCATION FOR THE ITINERANT STUDENT
THE WRITINGS OF JAMES STEPHENS: Variations on a
Theme of Love
Portrait of the Author as a Celebrity: James Stephens Reading his
Works over the Radio in New York.
Uncollected Prose of
J
ames Stephens
Edited by
Patricia A. McFate
Macmillan
Gill and Macmillan
Selection and editorial matter © Patricia A. McFate 1983
Ja mes Stephens texts © Mrs Iris Wise 1983
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1St edition 1983 978-0-333-32517-9
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means,
without permission
First published I!)83 by
THE MACMILLAN PRESS LTD
London and Basingstoke
Companies and representatives
throughout the world
ISBN 978-1-349-17096-8 ISBN 978-1-349-17094-4 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-349-17094-4
ISBN 978-0-333-32516-2 (vol. 1)
ISBN 978-0-333-34993-9 (the set)
Published in Ireland by
GILL AND MACMILLAN LTD
Goldenbridge Dublin 8
ISBN 978-0-7171-1263-0 (vol. 2)
ISBN 978-0-7171-1262-3 (vol. 1)
For UWL
Verse is a manifesting of the angel in man,
but prose is an unburying of the god.
On Prose and Verse (1928)
Contents
Portrait oj the Author as a Celebriry Frontispiece
Preface
IX
Acknowledgements
X
Chronology
Xli
PROSE WRITINGS: 1916-25
God Bless the Work 135
In the Interval 137
In the Silence 139
Conscription and the Return of the Dog 141
Pamphlets 143
Crepe de Chine 144
Sawdust 149
The Birthday Party 154
Dublin/A City of Wonderful Dreams/Silent and Voluble
Folk 158
Mythology/Quaint Tales of Origination/The Cult of
Death 163
The Thieves I 70
Ireland Returning to her Fountains 177
An Adventure in Prophecy 181
The Outlook for Literature with Special Reference to
Ireland 185
An Interview with Mr James Stephens: by our Special
Correspondent [James Esse] 195
Tochmarc Etaine: The Immortal Hour: I 199
Tochmarc Etaine: The Immortal Hour: II 202
The Novelist and Final Utterance 204
Growth in Fiction 208
VII
Vlll CONTENTS
PROSE WRITINGS: 1926-37
London Woos a Man! 215
Trying to Find the Strand 218
How St Patrick Saves the Irish 220
For St Patrick's Day 223
A Poetry Reading with Comments 226
The Passing of 'A.Eo' 230
PROSE WRITINGS: 1938-48
Thomas Moore: Champion Minor Poet
The 'Period Talent' of G. K. Chesterton
W. B. Yeats: a Tribute
TWO PLAYS: 1921 and 1929
The Demi-Gods 255
Julia Elizabeth: a Comedy in One Act 289
Select Bibliography 297
Index XIV