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Joyce, James (1882-1941) Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Inscribed First English Edition.
London: The Egoist Ltd., 1917.
First English edition printed from the English sheets, octavo; inscribed in ink by Joyce on front fly leaf to Baron Ambrose Ralli, "in grateful remembrance of 21 June 1915," signed in Trieste on 8 November, 1919; bound in green publisher's cloth stamped in blind and gilt (lightly toned, occasional pencil annotations and corner creases; front hinge a bit tender, minor sunning to spine, head cap fraying, foxing to endpapers); 7 1/4 x 4 3/4 in.
This presentation copy for Baron Ambrose (Paul) Ralli (1876-1938) thanks him for his crucial role in helping Joyce and his family flee Italy during World War I. Ralli was a friend of Joyce's while residing in Trieste, Italy. It was during these early years in Italy that Joyce finished Dubliners and made significant progress in developing A Portrait of the Arist as a Young Man. After much championing by the influential critic and poet Ezra Pound, the first chapter of the unfinished Portrait was published in Dora Marsden's The Egoist magazine in 1914. The completed novel was subsequently published serially in 25 installments by the same publication.
When Italy declared war on the Austro-Hungarian Empire in May 1915, Joyce was compelled to flee Trieste. Baron Ralli and Count Francesco Sordina provided essential support during this perilous time. The date of remembrance, June 21st, is likely the day Joyce escaped. The Morgan Library holds a copy of Portrait similarly inscribed to Count Sordina. Ralli also supported Joyce in his literary career and was the only person in Trieste to purchase a subscription copy of Ulysses.
