Wai-te-ata Press hosts James Joyce in Aotearoa exhibition

At noon on Bloomsday, 16 June, Reader Sydney Shep, Reader Marco Sonzogni, friends of Wai-te-ata Press, and the Embassy of Ireland New Zealand gathered for what Ambassador of Ireland His Excellency Mr Peter Ryan remarked was “the first Bloomsday event in the world”.

22 June 2022

Bloomsday is a commemoration and celebration of the life of Irish writer James Joyce, observed annually on 16 June. It is the day his novel Ulysses takes place in 1904, telling the story of a single day in the life of the novel’s main protagonist, Leopold Bloom (hence ‘Bloomsday’). In real life, this date is also the day James Joyce met Nora Barnacle, his later wife.

The event launched the ‘Ulysses in Aotearoa’ exhibition, which is showing until 30 June on the bottom floor of the University Library.

Reader Dr Sydney Shep of Wai-te-ata Press explained why Ulysses remains understood as “the greatest novel of the century,” albeit one that not many have read.

“2022 not only marks the centenary of Ulysses but also the 60th anniversary of Wai-te-ata Press,” says Dr Shep.

“It is fitting therefore that we have been celebrating the occasion with a number of events: our summer scholar, John Seton from Law and Classics, investigated the owners of the 1,000 copies of the first edition; we have presented our research at the National Library, the School of Languages and Cultures, and the Featherston Booktown Festival; we are hosting an international bookplate competition; and we hope to bring a very special copy of Ulysses to Aotearoa later this year.”

Joyce scholar, Reader Dr Marco Sonzogni from the School of Languages and Cultures, posed a challenging set of quiz questions for the group gathered, giving away tote bags and copies of Ulysses as prizes.

While Joyce had published previous books with other publishers, he had struggled to find a publisher for this one, until, on 2 February 1922, Ulysses was published by Shakespeare & Co Bookshop in Paris, thanks to the support of the proprietor Sylvia Beach.

The Irish Embassy has partnered with libraries and universities all over Aotearoa to bring together the special exhibition, which marks the 100th anniversary of Ulysses’ publication.

As well as the exhibition at Wai-te-ata Press, there is an exhibit at the Te Awe branch of Wellington City Libraries, also until 30 June. Wellington City Libraries has also released a podcast of their librarian speaking to His Excellency Peter Ryan.