guest post by Robert Amos
The Joyceans of Victoria met at the legendary James Joyce Bistro on the night of February 1 (which was by then February 2 in Dublin, James Joyce’s birthday) to salute the launch of the second edition of the unabridged Finnegans Wake, with musical accompaniment by Waywords and Meansigns.
Sitting around a table richly inscribed with words from Finnegans Wake, and beneath a panel of text from Ulysses, proprietor David Peacock provided food and drink as we discussed the evolution of things Joycean in this little city by the Pacific Ocean. In the past, around this very table, such prominent Joyceans as Hans Walter Gabler, Eric McLuhan, Marcelo Zabaloy and Derek Pyle have enjoyed the unique atmosphere, and a visit from Michael Groden and Molly Peacock is eagerly anticipated.
A laptop was provided and the measured tones of Robert Amos came forth, as he introduced the Rime of Mick, Nick and the Maggies, from Book Two, Chapter One. Here we were in our little corner, sharing the text of our favourite book with others worldwide, and free of charge. Amos, who was sitting at the table, read along with himself, and then unfurled a large scroll which he had inscribed with these same words, and indicated what he was reading – the text in the book, became the scroll, and was read by someone at the table as it was heard around the world on the internet – simultaneously. This was a memorable moment!
It was much later, after readings from Portrait of the Artist, Ulysses and Finnegans Wake, that we concluded our “first Monday of the month” meeting and walked out into the night. Somewhere, up there among the stars, the words of Finnegans Wake (unabridged, with music) are singing their own sweet song.