Re: “Our Exagmination Round His Factification for Incamination of Work in Progress” and
James Joyces’s “Finnegan’s
Wake” (see CATCHING UP WITH LEON
and scroll to the postscript), a message arrived from Hammond Guthrie, who is a poet, artist,
screenwriter, editor (The 3rd Page) and intrepid
autobiographer (“AsEverWas:
Memoirs of a Beat Survivor”):
I wanted to read the very text that these authors (Beckett et al) read in order
to write their reviews (views) of “Anna Livia Plurabelle” — pre publication of the “Wake.” I
searched the Joyce sites but all I could find were post-publication versions of same. So I began
searching university libraries. Finally I got a note from some university guy in Boston who said he
would forward my request along the university grapevine.
A few weeks later I get a letter from some university in Texas (can’t remember which
off-hand, but I have it filed). They indeed had in their collection the original document that was
sent to the various authors of “Exagmination” — which I could read only if I came to Texas, as it
had never been copied. I said that was out of the question. I was told my only option was to
approach the Joyce Estate — which I did via the university librarian — filling out all sorts of
forms.
Weeks went by — and then one day I get a package from the university. The estate had given
their permission for me to have a copy! It is the only copy of the original document — which I had
to promise in writing not to publish, and which I haven’t. Yet I do have the copy at hand.
Interesting, eh what?
“Eh what?” Among his many expatriate adventures, Hammond lived in England once
upon a time.
