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VI.B.25.

Work in Progress"/Finnegans Wake Notebook (1923)


Material Description

The manuscript is a stenographer’s tablet. It is an example of a type of notebook Joyce used from December 1922 through March 1924, all of which have horizontal spines: MSS VI.B.10, VI.B.3, VI.B.2, VI.B.11, VI.B.6, and VI.B.1.

The covers are no longer with the manuscript but the sheets (and presumably the covers) were stapled twice in the center, folded in half horizontally and trimmed to form the tablet.                       

Joyce used blue, red, brown, and green colored crayons to cross through notes as he used them for his manuscripts.


Collation

The manuscript now consists of 96 leaves of unlined, refined, pulp paper; an undetermined number of pages are missing. Only 13 leaves (pp. [143]–[168]) survive intact, except for a tear in the top corner of most pages, and most of these pages are fully inscribed; none are completely blank. The remaining 83 leaves (166 pages) survive only as fragments of various dimensions, of which 50 pages retain notes of at least one line or partial words and phrases (pp. [009]–[019], [021], [023], [025], [027]–[031], [033]–[038], [105], [107], [108], [109], [113], [115], [118], [119], [120], [123], [124], [126], [128], [129], [131], [133], [136], [137], [139], [141], [142], [172], [174], [176], [178], and [184]); 24 pages retain unintelligible portions of letters and/or words (pp. [008], [020], [032], [039], [041], [045], [047], [055], [056], [057], [065], [111], [112], [114], [117], [121], [122], [125], [127], [132], [134], [135], [140], and [184]). On the other hand, 66 pages appear to be blank, but are too small to ascertain whether they had been inscribed (pp. [001]–[006], [040], [042]–[044], [046], [048]–[054], [058]–[064], [066]–[104], [169], and [170]); and 26 are blank but are large enough to suggest that they may not have been inscribed (pp. [007], [022], [024], [026], [106], [110], [116], [130], [138], [171], [173], [175], [177], [179], [180]–[183], and [185]–[192]).

The manuscript was disbound for preservation purposes and analysis in July 2001.


Measurements

The manuscript measures 21.2 x 13.2 cm. (as trimmed), although the fragments that survive differ in size as follows:

Page: Measurement Page Measurement Page Measurement
[001] 0.9 x 5.5 cm. [065] 0.4 x 4.5 cm. [129] 2.2 x 13.1 cm.
[002] 0.9 x 5.5 cm. [066] 0.4 x 4.5 cm. [130] 2.2 x 13.1 cm.
[003] 0.9 x 5.8 cm. [067] 0.3 x 4.0 cm. [131] 2.2 x 13.1 cm.
[004] 0.9 x 5.8 cm. [068] 0.3 x 4.0 cm. [132] 2.2 x 13.1 cm.
[005] 0.5 x 5.7 cm. [069] 0.3 x 3.9 cm. [133] 2.2 x 13.1 cm.
[006] 0.5 x 5.7 cm. [070] 0.3 x 3.9 cm. [134] 2.2 x 13.1 cm.
[007] 1.1 x 8.3 cm. [071] 0.3 x 3.7 cm. [135] 2.3 x 13.1 cm.
[008] 1.1 x 8.3 cm. [072] 0.3 x 3.7 cm. [136] 2.3 x 13.1 cm.
[009] 3.0 x 13.0 cm. [073] 0.3 x 3.7 cm. [137] 2.5 x 13.1 cm.
[010] 3.0 x 13.0 cm. [074] 0.3 x 3.7 cm. [138] 2.5 x 13.1 cm.
[011] 3.2 x 13.2 cm. [075] 0.2 x 2.0 cm. [139] 2.6 x 13.2 cm.
[012] 3.2 x 13.2 cm. [076] 0.2 x 2.0 cm. [140] 2.6 x 13.2 cm.
[013] 3.2 x 13.2 cm. [077] 0.2 x 2.0 cm. [141] 2.5 x 13.2 cm.
[014] 3.2 x 13.2 cm. [078] 0.2 x 2.0 cm. [142] 2.5 x 13.2 cm.
[015] 3.3 x 13.2 cm. [079] 0.2 x 1.5 cm. [143] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[016] 3.3 x 13.2 cm. [080] 0.2 x 1.5 cm. [144] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[017] 2.7 x 13.2 cm. [081] 0.1 x 1.0 cm. [145] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[018] 2.7 x 13.2 cm. [082] 0.1 x 1.0 cm. [146] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[019] 2.6 x 13.2 cm. [083] 0.0 x 9.0 cm. [147] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[020] 2.6 x 13.2 cm. [084] 0.0 x 0.5 cm. [148] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[021] 2.6 x 13.2 cm. [085] 0.0 x 0.5 cm. [149] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[022] 2.6 x 13.2 cm. [086] 0.0 x 0.5 cm. [150] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[023] 2.6 x 13.2 cm. [087] 0.0 x 0.5 cm. [151] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[024] 2.6 x 13.2 cm. [088] 0.0 x 0.5 cm. [152] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[025] 2.6 x 13.2 cm. [089] 0.5 x 1.6 cm. [153] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[026] 2.6 x 13.2 cm. [090] 0.5 x 1.6 cm. [154] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[027] 2.6 x 13.2 cm. [091] 0.5 x 1.6 cm. [155] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[028] 2.6 x 13.2 cm. [092] 0.5 x 1.6 cm. [156] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[029] 2.6 x 13.2 cm. [093] 0.5 x 1.6 cm. [157] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[030] 2.6 x 13.2 cm. [094] 0.5 x 1.6 cm. [158] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[031] 2.6 x 13.2 cm. [095] 0.5 x 1.6 cm. [159] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[032] 2.6 x 13.2 cm. [096] 0.5 x 1.6 cm. [160] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[033] 2.6 x 13.2 cm. [097] 0.5 x 1.6 cm. [161] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[034] 2.6 x 13.2 cm. [098] 0.5 x 1.6 cm. [162] 21.2 x 13.2 cm.
[035] 2.6 x 13.2 cm. [099] 0.5 x 1.6 cm. [163] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[036] 2.6 x 13.2 cm. [100] 0.5 x 1.6 cm. [164] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[037] 2.6 x 13.2 cm. [101] 0.5 x 1.6 cm. [165] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[038] 2.6 x 13.2 cm. [102] 0.5 x 1.6 cm. [166] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[039] 0.7 x 12.9 cm. [103] 0.5 x 1.6 cm. [167] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[040] 0.7 x 12.9 cm. [104] 0.1 x 1.6 cm. [168] 21.3 x 13.2 cm.
[041] 0.7 x 12.5 cm. [105] 2.0 x 9.0 cm. [169] 0.9 x 13.1 cm.
[042] 0.7 x 12.5 cm. [106] 2.0 x 9.0 cm. [170] 0.9 x 13.1 cm.
[043] 0.7 x 12.5 cm. [107] 2.0 x 9.0 cm. [171] 4.5 x 13.2 cm.
[044] 0.7 x 12.5 cm. [108] 2.0 x 9.0 cm. [172] 4.5 x 13.2 cm.
[045] 0.6 x 10.5 cm. [109] 2.0 x 9.0 cm. [173] 6.3 x 13.2 cm.
[046] 0.6 x 10.5 cm. [110] 2.0 x 9.0 cm. [174] 6.3 x 13.2 cm.
[047] 0.6 x 10.5 cm. [111] 2.0 x 8.4 cm. [175] 6.3 x 13.2 cm.
[048] 0.6 x 10.5 cm. [112] 2.0 x 8.4 cm. [176] 6.3 x 13.2 cm.
[049] 0.5 x 9.0 cm. [113] 2.0 x 8.5 cm. [177] 4.3 x 13.2 cm.
[050] 0.5 x 9.0 cm. [114] 2.0 x 8.5 cm. [178] 4.3 x 13.2 cm.
[051] 0.5 x 7.2 cm. [115] 2.1 x 9.0 cm. [179] 5.0 x 13.2 cm.
[052] 0.5 x 7.2 cm. [116] 2.1 x 9.0 cm. [180] 5.0 x 13.2 cm.
[053] 0.5 x 6.6 cm. [117] 2.0 x 9.0 cm. [181] 3.0 x 13.2 cm.
[054] 0.5 x 6.6 cm. [118] 2.0 x 9.0 cm. [182] 3.0 x 13.2 cm.
[055] 0.5 x 6.6 cm. [119] 2.0 x 8.7 cm. [183] 3.0 x 13.2 cm.
[056] 0.5 x 6.6 cm. [120] 2.0 x 8.7 cm. [184] 3.0 x 13.2 cm.
[057] 0.5 x 6.6 cm. [121] 2.0 x 8.5 cm. [185] 2.0 x 8.3 cm.
[058] 0.5 x 6.6 cm. [122] 2.0 x 8.5 cm. [186] 2.0 x 8.3 cm.
[059] 0.5 x 6.6 cm. [123] 2.1 x 9.2 cm. [187] 1.8 x 8.2 cm.
[060] 0.5 x 6.6 cm. [124] 2.1 x 9.2 cm. [188] 1.8 x 8.2 cm.
[061] 0.5 x 6.6 cm. [125] 2.1 x 9.5 cm. [189] 1.7 x 6.4 cm.
[062] 0.5 x 6.6 cm. [126] 2.1 x 9.5 cm. [190] 1.7 x 6.4 cm.
[063] 0.5 x 6.6 cm. [127] 2.2 x 11.0 cm. [191] 1.5 x 5.5 cm.
[064] 0.5 x 6.6 cm. [128] 2.2 x 11.0 cm. [192] 1.5 x 5.5 cm.

Other Markings

There are traces of the color crayon from the cross through markings on pp. [138] and [175], as well as on 10 further, smaller pages (pp. [048] and [049], [066] and [067], [072] and [073], [076] and [077] as well as [080] and [081]), suggesting that either one of the facing pages may have been inscribed. Joyce wrote "c " (upside down) in red crayon on p. [168].


Pagination

The pages are not numbered. The pagination in the JJA does not correspond to the actual state of the manuscript:

Manuscript JJA Pagination
pp. [001]–[008] NA
pp. [009]–[038] 35.001–030
pp. [039]–[104] NA
pp. [105]–[168] 35.031–094
pp. [169]–[170] NA
pp. [171]–[178] 35.095–102
pp. [179]–[192] NA

Dating

Joyce compiled this notebook from July to August 1923 in Paris, London, and Bognor (FWNB: VI.B.25, pp. 4–5).


Publication

Page [009]–[038], [105]–[168], and [171]–[178] of this manuscript have been reproduced in black and white photo-facsimile in JJA 35.002–025 and the manuscript was published in The Finnegans Wake Notebooks at Buffalo: VI.B.25, edited by Vincent Deane, Daniel Ferrer and Geert Lernout (Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols, 2002).


Notes

The state of the manuscript as it survives indicates that pages were torn unevenly in clusters from the notebook by hand. Of the extant torn pages, almost 75% (pp. [001]–[142]) were from the front of the notebook, but only 12.5% (pp. [169]–[192]) from the back. Remnants around the staples are all that remain of 8 leaves (pp. [089]–[104]); these four sheets were pulled from the center of the notebook. It is not clear why the notebook was taken apart in the manner it was, why it was preserved in its present state, nor if it was Joyce himself who destroyed the notebook.

Although only a small portion of this manuscript survives, enough evidence remains to speculate about its prior state. The sigla marking on p. [168] suggest that the pages that followed it were torn (and some were probably lost) by 1926–1927 and that it was the last page at that time. The remainder of notebook was presumably still intact in March 1931, when Joyce transferred some of its notes sequentially (at least through the extant pages) to MS VI.A, p. [0031]–[0044].

Joyce habitually used notebooks composed of sheets that were bound with horizontal spines as though the two adjoining pages formed one long page. That is, when the notebook was fully opened, Joyce would inscribe what would be the even-numbered pages from their top edge toward the center spine, continuing to take notes on the facing, (odd-numbered) pages from the center spine toward the bottom edge of the notebook pages. Therefore, presumably (at least) the even-numbered pp. [008]–[020], [028]–[038], [056], [108], [112], [114], [118], [120], [132]–[136], [140]–[150], [156], and possibly p. [184], were inscribed with notes to the bottom edge.

Based on the manner in which Joyce typically used this type of notebook, all of the notes inscribed on pp. [153], [154], [158]–[159], [161], [163], [164]–[165], [166]–[167], [168], [172], [174], [176], [178], and [184] are upside down, as are some of those on pp. [152], [155], [160], and [162], indicating that he used the notebook from back to front as well from front to back. Correspondingly, if Joyce inscribed the latter portion of the notebook consistently upside down (if at all), then the odd-numbered pp. [169], [173]–[179], and [185] may have been inscribed. Not enough remains of the odd-numbered pp. [179]–[192] to be sure if those were inscribed upside down (if at all).

Mme France Raphael, Joyce’s amanuensis, did not transcribe this notebook.