Lua

1928 — pp. v, 199. Top edge decorated green. 8vo. Original full cloth binding, decorated and lettered in brown. Spine faded. Hardbound. First Edition. James Stephens (1882-1950) was left fatherless in the Dublin slums at the age of two. His mother remarried or took up with another man when James was about six years of age. She abandoned her young son and he was forced to go to the Meath Protestant Industrial School for Boys. The Meath School was cruel and harsh and he ran away to live in the streets or live with families that took to the likely boy. In 1905 'The Greatest Miracle' was published by Arthur Griffith in The United Irishman. Griffith became good friends with Stephens and published his works in his magazine know as the Sinn Fein. From 1905-1910, Stephens attended Gaelic League classes and become involved with political meetings. During this time he published several pieces which focused on Irish national pride, the importance of learning one's Irish language and customs, and remembering the ancient saga heroes. Stephens met many of his great contemporaries during this period including George Russell (AE), George Moore, W.B. Yeats, Lady Gregory, etc. In the year 1912, Stephens published The Charwoman's Daughter and later in the same year his noted work The Crock of Gold. The Crock of Gold was a great success and Stephens moved to Paris so he could concentrate on writing full time. Cynthia Kavanagh who had been his lover since 1907 accompanied him. He later married her in 1919. The Demi-Gods was published in 1914 and in 1915 he moved back to Dublin to become the Registrar of the National Gallery of Ireland (and stayed in that position till 1924). Stephens witnessed the shooting of a man as a result of the Easter Uprising in Dublin in 1916. This became a turning point for him as the event intensified his patriotic feelings and renewed his interest in old Irish literature. Stephens moved to London in the year 1925. He began a series of lecture tours which extended to the United States. In 1935 Stephens began a literary and personal friendship with James Joyce. His colleagues considered Stephens to be a genius who easily embraced fantasy, philosophy, and comedy - those who read him today will still be struck by his genius. **PRICE JUST REDUCED! STEPHENS/W77