Sitting at this very table, Joyce and his friends met to discuss the French translation of ‘Anna Livia Plurabelle’ (now Book I, chapter 8 of Finnegans Wake). According to Richard Ellmann, Joyce’s biographer, work on the translation had been started by Samuel Beckett and Alfred Péron, and continued at this table for three hours every Thursday afternoon from November 1930 to March 1931. While Joyce sat and smoked in one of the armchairs, Paul Léon read the English text, Philippe Soupault read the French translation, and others (including Eugene Jolas and Ivan Goll) offered comments. The translation appeared in the Nouvelle Revue Française in May 1931. Léon threatened to sell the table if Joyce would inscribe his name on it.
Press ‘A’ to learn more about Joyce’s use of this furniture… Press ‘B’ to learn more about Léon’s role in saving Joyce material…