STILL PROGRESSING

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.