TWO WORLDS MONTHLY de (JOYCE, JAMES) - 1926 - September 1927

New York: Two Worlds Publishing, July, 1926 - September 1927. These 11 issues contain bowdlerized (and unauthorized) reprints of 13 episodes of Joyce's "Ulysses," which had been banned in the United States on grounds of obscenity. This bold piracy certainly brought Roth to the attention of the literary world: according to Slocum & Cahoon, "This unauthorized serialization of Ulysses resulted in considerable public indignation and provoked the 'International Protest' signed by 167 artists and writers and printed in transition I (April 1927)." Roth had planned to publish 14 installments in 12 issues; however, the 12th issue never appeared individually, though that section did appear in a later two-volume bound edition. Joyce sought and obtained an injunction against Roth, but by that time "Two Worlds" had ceased publication. The author sued for damages, claiming that an American edition of "Ulysses" could make $500,000. The New York Times reported that Roth countered, "The circulation of The Two Worlds Magazine has decreased very appreciably since the announcement of the articles by Mr. Joyce." In addition to "Ulysses," the magazine contains writings by T. S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, Djuna Barnes, Anatole France, D. H. Lawrence, and Octave Mirbeau's scandalous novel, "Diary of a Chambermaid." Complete sets of the individual issues are very hard to find, especially in good condition.. 238 x 168 mm. (9 3/8 x 6 5/8"). The journal's first 11 issues. Edited by Samuel Roth. Original printed paper wrappers. Isolated pencilled marginalia. Slocum & Cahoon C-68. Five spines with minor chip at tail, short splits to head of six joints, covers of last issue detached and chipped around the edges, covers a little soiled, with a couple of short fore-edge tears, occasional corner creases or short marginal tears, but the leaves clean and fresh, and the fragile volumes otherwise well preserved. These 11 issues contain bowdlerized (and unauthorized) reprints of 13 episodes of Joyce's "Ulysses," which had been banned in the United States on grounds of obscenity. This bold piracy certainly brought Roth to the attention of the literary world: according to Slocum & Cahoon, "This unauthorized serialization of Ulysses resulted in considerable public indignation and provoked the 'International Protest' signed by 167 artists and writers and printed in transition I (April 1927)." Roth had planned to publish 14 installments in 12 issues; however, the 12th issue never appeared individually, though that section did appear in a later two-volume bound edition. Joyce sought and obtained an injunction against Roth, but by that time "Two Worlds" had ceased publication. The author sued for damages, claiming that an American edition of "Ulysses" could make $500,000. The New York Times reported that Roth countered, "The circulation of The Two Worlds Magazine has decreased very appreciably since the announcement of the articles by Mr. Joyce." In addition to "Ulysses," the magazine contains writings by T. S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, Djuna Barnes, Anatole France, D. H. Lawrence, and Octave Mirbeau's scandalous novel, "Diary of a Chambermaid." Complete sets of the individual issues are very hard to find, especially in good condition.