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'Ulysses' manuscript sells for record $1.5 million

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- An autographed manuscript of an important chapter of legendary Irish author James Joyce's novel "Ulysses" sold at a Christie's auction Wednesday for $1.5 million -- an English-language literary record -- to the National Library of Ireland in Dublin. The manuscript is an early, previously unknown draft of the "Circe" chapter of the 18-episode "Ulysses," which Joyce began as early as 1915. It was serialized beginning in 1918 before being published for the first time in book form in Paris in 1922.

"Christie's is very, very pleased with the results of the sale," manuscripts specialist Chris Coover said. "The price realized constitutes a record for an English-language literary manuscript as far as I'm aware and we are doubly delighted that it is returning to Ireland."

The auction house said the manuscript consists of 27 large sheets, densely handwritten, with additions, corrections and deletions in the margin. The "Circe" episode narrates the nightmarish experiences of Leopold Bloom and Stephen Daedalus in the red-light district of Dublin.

The manuscript sold for $1,546,000, above the pre-auction estimate of between $600,000 and $900,000, to a bidder representing the National Library of Ireland in Dublin. The price included the auction house's 10 percent commission.

Edward Maggs, of Maggs Brothers Limited in London, made the winning bid on behalf of the Library. Maggs said the manuscript would be delivered to Dublin overnight.

"I think it is a great symbol of the new self-confidence of Ireland and indeed of Dublin that one of the most important texts relating to the city can at last be allowed back in," Maggs said. "It was something of a bargain I think. It is a very important manuscript."

Coover said that although "Ulysses" was one of the most thoroughly studied works of modern fiction, almost no significant Joyce manuscripts had appeared on the market in 25 years.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



RELATED SITES:
Official Web site of the James Joyce Centre
Christie's
National Library of Ireland: Dublin

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