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He turned to quill and paper, for so he could arrange, in the necessary silence, the abundant inadequacies of life, as a laying-out of jewels — jewels with a will to decay.

For Bloomsday, James Joyce’s most revealing interview and profile – by none other than the great Djuna Barnes.

James Joyce Ulysses lit history and literature interviews Djuna Barnes

The pity is, the public will demand and find a moral in my book — or worse, they may take it in some more serious way, and on the honor of a gentleman, there is not one single serious line in it.

For James Joyce’s birthday, his most revealing interview – conducted by Djuna Barnes, no less. Ulysses, the book in question, was also published on Joyce’s birthday – his fortieth.

James Joyce Bloomsday Djuna Barnes history and literature lit illustration

For Bloomsday and general delight, Djuna Barnes’s hand-drawn portrait of James Joyce, accompanying her remarkable 1922 profile-interview of the author – the most significant one he ever gave.

James Joyce Djuna Barnes interviews history and literature lit culture and society

Djuna Barnes interviews James Joyce in 1922, shortly after the release of Ulysses – the iconic Irishman’s most significant interview, at once incredibly cryptic and incredibly revealing.