Finnegans Wake

III.1: Book III Chap. 1

Details of the various draft stages.

Compiled by Danis Rose and John O'Hanlon
Draft Analysis: III.1

2010 edition FW pages 313-332
1939 edition FW pages 403-428

III.1 Protodrafts

III.1 Subsections
  • III§1A : 1939 FW 403-414.13
  • III§1B : 1939 FW 414.14-414.21 (introduction to “The Ondt”)
  • III§1C : 1939 FW 414.22-419.10 (“The Ondt and the Gracehoper”)
  • III§1D : 1939 FW 419.11-428

1924 drafts

III§1A.0/1D.0
First draft (pencil), followed immediately by III§2A.0, in hardbacked notebook; March 1924 (see Letters, III, 15 March, I, 24 March, and III, 6 April, 1924).
III§1A.1/1D.1
Second draft (pencil), followed immediately by III§2A.1; finished by 24 April 1924 (see Letters, Beach, 25 April, 1924).
III§1A.2/1D.2
Fair copy (pencil), followed immediately by III§2A.2; probably written out late April and revised in first half of May 1924 (see Letters, I, 24 May 1924).
III§1A.3/1D.3
Second fair copy (ink), followed immediately by III§2A.3; probably mid-June 1924.
III§1D.3χ
Rough notes for the revisions in second fair copy (also for III§2A.3/2C.3). Some of the notes on the letter-paper are repeated on the envelope (cf. also N10 (VI.B.16).139(a), et seq.); June 1924 (see Letters, I, 27 June 1924).
  • MS: Joyce Tower, fol. 1r; Univ. Wisconsin envelope (both sides); BL 47484a, fol. 30v
  • JJA 57 (Book III Chapters 1 and 2): 124, not reproduced, 125
  • Notebooks used: N10 (VI.B.16)
III§1A.4/1D.4
Third fair copy (ink), followed immediately by III§2A.4; completed January 1925 (see Letters, III, 18 January, S. Ill., 19 January and Stanford, 21 January, 1925).
  • MS: BL 47483, fols. 3r, 4r, 5r, 6r, 7r, 8r, 9r, / (9r), 10r, 11r, 12r, 13r, 14r
  • JJA 57 (Book III Chapters 1 and 2): 129-140
  • Notebooks used: N12 (VI.B.14)

1926 Drafts

III§1A.5/1D.5
First typescript, made in conjunction with III§2A.5/2B.2/2C.5; typed late January 1925 (see Letters, Stanford, 21 January and 27 January, and Selected Letters, 27 January 1925). Returned to and revised March/April 1926 (see Letters, I, 18 March, 1926).
III§1A.6/1D.6 (See also §1A.6+)
Fair copy (ink) mixed with pages from the preceding TS, made in conjunction with III§2A.6/2B.4/2C.6; revised at the same time as III§3A.5/3B.5; 2nd half of April 1926 (see Letters, III, 17 April and 2 May, 1926).
  • MS: BL 47483, fols. (33r), (34r), (35r), 42r, 43r, 44r, 45r, / (45r), 46r, 47r, 48r, 49r, (51r), (52r)
  • JJA 57 (Book III Chapters 1 and 2): 206-219
  • Notebooks used: N19 (VI.B.19)', N21 (VI.B.20), N22 (VI.B.17)
III§1A.6+
Revision contained in letter to Lily Bollach dated 5 May 1926 (the second revision - to add “too fly” - is a mistake, it was already in the text; the change “hairy” to “hairyman” was intended).
  • MS: Lund-630
  • JJA 57 (Book III Chapters 1 and 2): not reproduced
  • Notebooks used: N22 (VI.B.17)
III§1A.7/1D.7 (See also §1A.7′ and §1A.7+)
Second typescript (incomplete), made by Lily Bollach (finished before 21 May 1926), numbered 1-12 uniform with III§2A.7/2B.5/2C.7 and III§3A.6/3B.6; revised May-June 1926 (see Letters, III, 16 May, I, 21 May, and III, 7 June, 1926) and intermittently over the Summer (see drafts §1A.7′ and §1A.7+ below).
  • MS: BL 47483, fols. 54r, 56r, [missing], 57r, 58r, / (58r), 59r, 60r, 61r, 62r A 63r, [missing]
  • JJA 57 (Book III Chapters 1 and 2): 252-261
  • Notebooks used: N22 (VI.B.17), N23 (VI.B.12)
III§1A.7′
Further revisions for III.1-4 (also written in on above draft) included in letters to Sylvia Beach (see Letters, Beach, 19 June, 2 September and 11 September, 1926; see also N23 (VI.B.12).030(o) and surrounds for the first list).
  • MS: Buffalo, X.C.100, X.C.106, X.C.107
  • JJA 58 not reproduced
  • Notebooks used: N23 (VI.B.12)
III§1A.7+
Typescript of late corrections for III.1-4 also written in on above draft. The page numbers involved are listed in N23 (VI.B.12):128(a) and N23 (VI.B.12):145(a); probably September 1926.
  • MS: Buffalo VI.H.1, fol. 1r
  • JJA 57 (Book III Chapters 1 and 2): 284
Apart from a small number of corrections (see above drafts) Joyce finished with Book III at the beginning of June 1926. He returned to it in 1928 to get it ready for publication in transition, beginning in February 1928 for III.1-2 (see following draft), continuing in April 1928 for III.3 (paused, then resumed November 1928), and starting again in September 1929 for III.4.

transition proofs

III§1A.8/1D.8 (See also §1A.8′/1D.8′ and §1A.8″/1D.8″))
First proofs for transition 12 and 13 (see also III§2A.8/2C.8/2D.8) combined; probably February 1928 (see Letters, III, 15 February 1928).
III§1A.8′/1D.8′
First proofs for transition 12 and 13 combined, second copy (see also III§2A.8′/2C.8′/2D.8′) combined but with different overlay; probably February 1928.
III§1A.8″/1D.8″
First proofs, duplicates (incomplete), for transition 12 with different overlay; probably February 1928.
III§1A.8‴/1D.8‴
First proofs, duplicates (incomplete), for transition 12, unmarked; probably February 1928.
III§1A.9/1D.9 (See also §1A.9′/1D.9′)
Second proofs for transition 12, dated 21 February 1928, incorporating the revisions on §1A.8′/1D.8′ and §1A.8″/1D.8″, with the additions on §1A.8/1D.8 copied in by an amanuensis, and with further overlay.
III§1A.9′/1D.9′
Second proofs, duplicates, for transition 12, dated 21 February 1928, with further overlay.
III§1A.10/1D.10 (See also §1A.10′/1D.10′ and §1A.10+/1D.10+)
Third proofs for transition 12, with long holograph insertions “A” (fol. 98), “B” (see 1A.10+′ below), “C” (see III§1B.1/1C.1 below) and “D” (fols.99-100); dated by the printer 2 March 1928.
Inserts: “Mrs Sanders” and “The Ondt and the Gracehoper”.
III§1A.10+′
Scribal copy of long III§1A.10 addition on BL-47483-106r ("To the Very ..."); March 1928.
  • MS: NLI 15/17 marked "B" (online)
  • JJA 57 not reproduced
III§1B.0/1C.0
First draft (pencil) of “The Ondt and the Gracehoper”, in a small pink notebook; probably February 1928, sent to Harriet Shaw Weaver 20 March 1928 (see Selected Letters, 26 March, and III, 28 March, 1928).
  • MS: BL 47483, fols. 81r, / (81r), 82r, 83r, 83v-84r 84v-85r, 86r, 86v-87r, 87v-88r, 88v-89r
  • JJA 57 (Book III Chapters 1 and 2): 293-307
  • Notebooks used: N29 (VI.B.21) (up to p. 200)
III§1B.0+/1C.0+
Redraft of the beginning of 1BC.0 written on music paper; March 1928.
III§1B.1/1C.1
Fair copy (partly scribal) of the “Ondt” piece, marked “C” for insertion in the third proofs of transition 12 (see III§1A.10/1D.10 above); probably March 1928.
  • MS: BL 47483, fols. 92v, 93r, / (93r), 94r, 95r, 96r, 97r
  • JJA 57 (Book III Chapters 1 and 2): 318-323
  • Notebooks used: N26 (VI.B.18)°, N29 (VI.B.21)
III§1A.10χ/1D.10χ
Predraft material used for the insertions on the third proofs of transition 12; March 1928.
  • MS: BL 47483, fols. 75r, 76r, / 73v, 74r, 77r, 78r, 79r, 80r, 101r
  • JJA 57 (Book III Chapters 1 and 2): 330-31 / 332-337
III§1A.10′/1D.10′
Third proofs, duplicates, for transition 12 with new overlay; dated by the printer 2 March 1928.
III§1A.10+/1D.10+
Third proofs, duplicates, for transition 12, with revisions on §1A.9′/1D.9′ and §1A.10/1D.10 copied in by an amanuensis; dated by the printer 2 March 1928.
III§1A.11/1D.11 (See also §1A.11′/1D.11′ and §1A.11+/1D.11+)
Fourth proofs for transition 12 (see also §1B.2/1C.2 below); finished by 21 March 1928.
III§1B.2/1C.2
Proofs (separate) of this section for transition 12: The revision on fol. 92v above is not incorporated in the printing and would have had to be written in. Otherwise a small number of corrections only; March 1928.
III§1A.11′/1D.11′
Fourth proofs (duplicates) for transition 12 (see also §1B.2′/1C.2′ below); finished by 21 March 1928.
III§1B.2′/1C.2′
Duplicate proofs (separate) of this section for transition 12: unmarked set; March 1928.
  • MS: NLI 36,639/15/3 1, 3, 2 (online)
  • JJA 57 (Book III Chapters 1 and 2): not reproduced
III§1A.11+/1D.11+
Late additions for the fourth proofs of transition 12; March 1928.
  • MS: BL 47483, fols. 101r
  • JJA 57 (Book III Chapters 1 and 2): 338
  • Notebooks used: N29 (VI.B.21)
transition 12 was published in the last week of March 1928 (see Letters, BLHW, 21 March and Beach, 25 March, 1928).
III§1D.11+′
Additions to insert “D” that did not make it into transition 12 but were later added in draft 12 below; probably late March 1928.
  • MS: Buffalo VI.B.50.e (VI.I.44)
  • JJA 40 (Notebooks VI.B.45-50): 348
  • Notebooks used: N29 (VI.B.21)

Copy for Tales Told of Shem and Shaun

Harry Crosbie of the Black Sun Press went to see Sylvia Beach in February 1929 to ask for a fragment of Work in Progress for a deluxe publication. Joyce agreed to give him II.2§8 and the two fables. A contract was signed on 4 April 1929 (see Letters, SIBS, 4 April 1929). See also I.6§3.3 and II.2§8.7.
III§1C.3
Pages of “The Ondt and the Gracehoper” section of transition 12 revised for Tales Told; probably April 1929 (see Letters, III, 12 April 1929).
III§1C.4 (See also §1C.4+)
Setting typescript for Tales Told; April 1929 (see Stuart Gilbert diary, 10 April 1929).
  • MS: Yale 9.6, fols. 1r, 1v (marked ‘2’), 3r, 4r, 5r, 6r, 7r, 8r, 9r, 10r, 11r, 12r
  • JJA 57 (Book III Chapters 1 and 2): 341-352
  • Notebooks used: N33 (VI.B.4)
III§1C.4+
Late corrections (missing) for the poem.
  • MS: missing
III§1C.5 (See also §1C.5+)
Proofs for Tales Told, first set, incorrectly marked ‘3rd proofs’; April or May 1929.
  • MS: Yale 9.9, fols. 14r, 15r, 16r, 17r, 18r, 19r, 20r, 21r
  • JJA 57 (Book III Chapters 1 and 2): 353-360
  • Notebooks used: N33 (VI.B.4), N34 (VI.B.27)
III§1C.5+
Typescript of (missing) late additions to fols. 15r and 21r; April or May 1929
  • MS: Yale 9.9, fol. 16a
  • JJA 57 (Book III Chapters 1 and 2): 361
  • Notebooks used: N34 (VI.B.27)
III§1C.6
Proofs for Tales Told, second set; probably sent to the printer 9 May 1929 (see I.6§3.7+).
  • MS: Private 16r, 17r, 18r, 19r, 20r, 21r, 22r, 23r, 24r
  • JJA 57 (Book III Chapters 1 and 2): not reproduced
  • Notebooks used: N34 (VI.B.27)
III§1C.7
Proofs for Tales Told, third set; dated by Joyce 19 May 1929.
  • MS: Texas, Hanley Collection, fols. 17r, 18r, 19r, 20r, 21r, 22r, 23r, 24r, 25r
  • JJA 57 (Book III Chapters 1 and 2): 363-371
  • Notebooks used: N33 (VI.B.4)°, N34 (VI.B.27)
III§1C.7+
Duplicate of third proof with poem reset (incomplete); May 1929.
  • MS: Yale 9.7, fol. 1r, [missing]
  • JJA 57 (Book III Chapters 1 and 2): 372
III§1C.8
Proofs for Tales Told, fourth set (incomplete); probably late May 1929.
  • MS: [missing]; Yale 9.8, fols. 52r, 53r, 54r, 55r
  • JJA 57 (Book III Chapters 1 and 2): 373-376
  • Notebooks used: N34 (VI.B.27)
Tales Told of Shem and Shaun was ready, if not officially published, before Joyce went on holiday in England on 10 July (see Harry Crosbie diary 17 June and Letters, III, 17 July, 1929). He did not return to Paris until mid-September 1929, at which time he got III.4 ready for transition (see III§4.4).
III§1C.8′
Copy of the conclusion of ‘The Ondt and the Gracehoper’ from Tales Told for Richard Aldington's Imagist Anthology (London: Chatto and Windus, May 1930). Joyce had originally intended to give him the St. Kevin piece that he had laid aside in 1923 (see Letters 27 May 1929, and IV§2.5).
  • MS: [missing]
III§1C.8+
Copy (missing, presumably unmarked) of Tales Told of Shem and Shaun for the printer of Two Tales of Shem and Shaun (London: Faber and Faber, December 1932).
  • MS: [missing]
Between late August and November 1931, the first samples of his book (whose title had not yet been disclosed) printed from selected pages of transition 1 and 15 began to arrive (see JJA 61, Book III transition Pages, pp. 658-666, and Letters, III, 15 October, BLHW, 28 October, 4 November, III, 21 November, and 22 November, 1931).

Copy for Faber and Faber

In preparing copy of Book III for the printer of Finnegans Wake Joyce collected and numbered, in the sequence they appear in the final text, pages from transition 12, 13, 15, and 18, pages from the ‘Ondt and the Gracehoper’ episode in Two Tales of Shem and Shaun, and pages from Haveth Childers Everywhere.

At least two, but possibly three, sets were involved. The first one (or two) were brought over to Faber and Faber by Maria Jolas at the end of January 1936 (see Letters, III, 27 January and NLFF, 3 February 1936). This was followed shortly afterwards by a typed list of further corrections (see III§1A.12+++ below). In June, the full MS (together with the equivalent Book I copy) was carried back to Paris by T.S. Eliot so that handwritten revisions could be typed (see Letters, NLFF, 17 April and 7 May, 1936). This work was completed and the MSS returned to London by Lucie Léon mid-July 1936 (see Letters, NLFF, 3 July and 12 July, 1936).

Dating the revisions themselves is more problematical. The collecting and assembly of the material appears to have begun in the autumn of 1931 (see Letters, III 27 October 1931). It is likely that Joyce undertook the first stage of revision in or around 1933-34. He started again the summer of 1935 (see III§1A.12′χ below). Another fallow period followed (see Letters, NLHW, 13 September 1935), until finally, with Léon's help, he got the whole, very complex material ready for delivery to London in early 1936.

III§1A.12/1B.3/§1C.9/§1D.12. (See also III§1A.12′…1A.12+…1A.12′+…1A.12+′…)
Marked pages of transition 12 (FW, 403-414.21: the first two leaves of text in this set were later transferred and used in §1A.12′+/1B.3′+), pages of Two Tales of Shem and Shaun (London, Faber and Faber, 1932) including one typescript page of additions (FW 414.22-419.10), and further pages of transition 12 (FW, 419.11-428); 1933-1935.
III§1A.12χ/1B.3χ/1C.9χ/1D.12χ
Extradraft notes (Sheets III) for the additions to the first set of marked transition pages for Book III; Switzerland-Paris, Summer-Winter 1933. The specific chapter (Shaun-a, b, c, d = III.1,2,3,4) to which each note or group of notes refers is indicated (not always correctly) in pencil. From the inclusion among these notes of certain material used in Book II (see, for example, §1.0χ, §1.5+χ, II.2§3.7χ, and §8.12χ) and from Buffalo notebook evidence, it is likely that Joyce compiled the notes in 1933-1934; some (if not all) of the pages were sent to Harriet Shaw Weaver in July 1934.
  • MS: BL 47486a, fols. 3r-v, 4r, 5r, 6r, 7r-v, 8r, 10r-v, 11r-v, 12r, 13r, 14r, 15r, 16r, 17r, 18r, 19r, 20r, 21r, 22r, 23r, 24r, 25r-v, 26r-v, 27r-v, 28r-v, 29r-v, 30r-v, 31r-v, 32r, 33r, 34r-v, 35r, 36r, 37r, 39r-v, 40r, 41r-v, 42r-v, 43r-v, 44r, 45, 46r, 47r, 48r, 49r, 50r, 51r, 52r, 53r, 54r, 56r, 57r, 58r, 59r, 60r-v, 61r-v, 63r, 64r, 65r, 66r, 67r, 68r, 220r-v, 221r-v, 224r-v, 225r; BL 47478, fol. 82r
  • JJA 61 (Book III transition Pages): 117-204
  • Notebooks used: VI.C.1, VI.C.2, VI.C.3
III§1A.12′/1B.3′/1C.9′/1D.12′
Second set (missing) of pages of transition 12,13, 15, and 18 (or possibly holograph sheets of additions keyed to the third set); with new overlay and (possibly) keyed to the typescript of additions to the first set (see preceding draft stages); probably 1936.
III§1A.12′χ/1D.12′χ
Extradraft notes (Sheets V) used for the additions on the above (missing) draft and for further overlay on the typescript of the first set of additions. The specific chapter and (frequently) page number to which each note refers are indicated, not always correctly, in pencil (see Letters, NLHW, 19 July 1935); Paris, June-July 1935.
  • MS: BL 47486a, fols. 183r, 184r, 185r, 186r, 187r, 188r, 189r, 190r, 192r, 193r, 194r, 195r, 196r, 197r, 198r, 199r, 200r, 201r, 202r, 203r, 204r, 205r, 206r, 207r, 208r, 209r, 210r, 211r, 212r, 213r, 214r, 215r, 216r, 217r, 218r, 218v, 219r, 219v, (220r), (220v), (221v), 222r, 222v, 223r
  • JJA 61 (Book III transition Pages): 258-298
  • Notebooks used: N47 (VI.B.40), VI.C.2, VI.C.3, VI.C.5, VI.C.6
III§1A.12′+/1B.3′+/1C.9′+/1D.12′+
Third set of transition 12 pages; pages of the “Ondt” fable from Two Tales transferred from the first set (see §1C.9) and subjected to further revision; further pages of the third set of transition 12 pages; keyed to duplicate typescript (see below) of first set and to typescript (here included) of second set of additions; fols. 301-302 were also used in §1A.12 and fol. 313 was also used in §1D.12); probably 1936.
  • MS: BL 47486b, fols. (301r), (301v), (302r), 370r, (302v), 371r, 303r, 372r, 303v, 373r, 304r, 375r, 304v, 376r, 305r, 377r, 305v, 378r, / (305v) / BL 47486b, fols. (306r-v), (307r-v), (308r-v), (309r), (309v), (366r), (310r-v), (311r-v), (312r) / (313r), (313v), 314r, 314v, 379r, 315r, 380r, 315v, 381r, 316r, 382r, 316v, 317r
  • JJA 61 (Book III transition Pages): 302-319, 325-332, 333-345
  • Notebooks used: VI.C.2, VI.C.5, VI.C.6, Sheets V
1A.12′+χ
First two leaves of above copy of transition 12, replaced before further revision by fols. 301-302 from the first set.
  • MS: BL 47486a, fols. 71r-v, 72r-v
  • JJA 61 (Book III transition Pages): 320-21
III§1A.12+/1C.9+/1D.12+
Typescript of additions made on the first set (see III§1A.12/1B.3/1C.9/1D.12) of transition 12 and Two Tales of Shem and Shaun (but note that not all of the additions were typed); probably 1936.
  • MS: BL 47486a, fols. 132r, 133r, / 134r, / 135r, 136r, 137r
  • JJA 61 (Book III transition Pages): 205-210
III§1A.12+′/1D.12+′
Duplicate typescript of first set of additions to transition 12; probably 1936.
  • MS: BL 47486b, fols. 364r, 365r, 374r / 367r, 368r, 369r
  • JJA 61 (Book III transition Pages): 322-324, 346-348
  • Notebooks used: VI.C.2°, Sheets V°
III§1A.12′+′/1C.9′+′/1D.12′+′
Duplicate typescript of (missing) second set of additions to transition 12.
  • MS: BL 47486a, fols. 226r, 227r, 228r, 229r, 230r, 231 r, 232r 233r, 234r, / 235r, 236r, 237r, 238r
  • JJA 61 (Book III transition Pages): 550-562
III§1A.12+/1D.12+
Final additions (Sheets VI, missing), probably in listed format, to the Book III transitions; early 1936. See below for typescript.
III§1A.12++/1D.12++
Typescript of final additions (to transition 12, 13, 15, and 18) of which the original holograph is missing; in random page sequence probably reflecting original holograph sheets; original Jan/Feb 1936. See above.
  • MS: BL 47486b, fols 500r, 501r, 502r, 503r, 504r, 505r, 506r, 507r, 508r, 509r
  • JJA 61 (Book III transition Pages): 627-636
III§1A.12++′/1D.12++′
Duplicate (carbon) of above; with new overlay.
  • MS: BL 47486b, fols. 510r, 511r, 509v, 512r, 513r, 514r, 515r, 516r, 517r, 518r, 519r
  • JJA 61 (Book III transition Pages): 637-647
III§1A.12+++/1D.12+++
New typescript of late additions, in correct page sequence; sent to Faber and Faber 16 February 1936 (see Letters, NLHW, 5 February and NLFF, 16 February, 1936).
  • MS: BL 47486b, fols: 491r, / (491r)
  • JJA 61 (Book III transition Pages): 648
  • Notebooks used: N48 (VI.B.38)
III§1D.12′++
Late additions (missing); probably 1936.

Proofs for Finnegans Wake III.1 (FW, 403-428)

III§1A.13/1B.4/1C.10/1D.13 (See also §1A.12+/1B.4+/1C.10+/1D.12+)
Galleys 126-142 (first set) for Finnegans Wake. Dated by the printer 22 April 1937; revised 1937-1938.
III§1A.13χ/1D.13χ
Predraft versions of some of the overlay on the first set of galleys. See Sheet viii-14(b) et seq.; 1937-1938.
  • MS: BL 47487, fols. 130r, 132r, 133r, / (133r)
  • JJA 62 (Book III Galleys): 240-242
  • Notebooks used: N52 (VI.B.42)
III§1A.13+/1B.4+/1C.10+/1D.13+
Galleys (second set, duplicate) for Finnegans Wake. Either this set or a duplicate (but withour any new revisions) was received by Faber and Faber on 22 December 1938 (see Letters, NLFF, 22 December 1938). The typed page containing the additions for the first galley (126) is missing.

Page proofs for III.1 (FW, 403-428)

III§1A.14/1B.5/1C.11/1D.14
Page proofs for Finnegans Wake, 1st set, missing; January 1939.
  • MS: [missing]
III§1A.14′/1B.5′/1C.11′/1D.14′
Page proofs for Finnegans Wake, 1st set, duplicates, unrevised set; January 1939.
  • MS: Tulsa 2C, /(2C), / (2C), 2D, / (2D)

Errata for III.1 (1939 FW 403-428)

III§1A.15/1B.6/1C.12/1D.15
Errata for Finnegans Wake, begun in 1939 (see Letters, NLFF, 22 July, NLPL 10 August, 19 August, and NLFF, 30 August, 1939), involving marking up an unbound copy of the first edition (minimal corrections only as the paging could not be redone), and completed in the summer of 1940 at Saint Gerand-le Puy. The corrections were then typed in duplicate (Buffalo VI.H.4.b, c) or triplicate and given to Maria Jolas on 28 August, 1940 for delivery in New York to B.W. Huebsch of the Viking Press. The third copy was presumably sent to Faber and Faber.
  • MS: Buffalo VI.H.4.a pp. 403-428; Buffalo VI.H.4.b, fols. 22, 23; Buffalo VI.H.4.c, fols. 22, 23
  • JJA 62 (Book III Galleys): not reproduced; 520-521; not reproduced