A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man — Joyce, Folio 1966

📖 A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce (1966, The Folio Society) — Joyce’s semi-autobiographical modernist novel traces Stephen Dedalus’s intellectual and artistic awakening as he breaks free from the constraints of Irish Catholicism and nationalism. This Folio Society second impression features expressive black-and-white illustrations by Brian Keogh that mirror Joyce’s stylistic evolution.

QUICK FACTS

• Author: James Joyce (1882–1941), Irish novelist and modernist pioneer
• Publisher: The Folio Society, London
• Year: 1966 (second impression)
• Format: Hardcover in paper-covered slipcase
• Pages: 227 | ISBN: None (pre-ISBN era)
• Condition: Book Near Fine, Slipcase Very Good — full report below

THE STORY

First published in 1916, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man marked Joyce’s first mature experiment with stream-of-consciousness narrative, following his protagonist Stephen Dedalus from infancy through young adulthood. The novel charts Stephen’s rebellion against the religious, political, and aesthetic conventions of early 20th-century Dublin, culminating in his self-imposed exile to “forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race.” Widely regarded as a cornerstone of literary modernism, it foreshadows the linguistic innovations Joyce would later perfect in Ulysses and Finnegans Wake.

THIS EDITION

This Folio Society second impression from 1966 is set in 11 point Bell type, leaded 1 point, and printed by W. & J. Mackay & Co Ltd of Chatham, Great Britain. The textured brown cloth boards feature a dark green line illustration of two figures seated on a bench, one smoking a pipe — a design characteristic of Folio Society’s mid-century aesthetic. The spine bears a dark green label with bright, unfaded gilt lettering. The top edge is stained gold, a hallmark of Folio Society fine bindings of this period.

COVER ART / ILLUSTRATIONS / DESIGN

The front board is decorated with a minimalist line drawing in dark green ink depicting two figures on a bench, rendered in a sketch-like style. The spine features a dark green label with gold-stamped title and author name. Inside, Brian Keogh’s black-and-white illustrations appear throughout — expressive, cross-hatched drawings that capture key scenes: the Christmas dinner argument, Stephen’s religious crisis, his aesthetic epiphany on the beach, and his conversations with Cranly and the dean of studies. The illustrations list includes captioned plates on pages 34, 75, 101, 143, 163, 196, and 227.

WHY IT MATTERS

• One of the defining works of literary modernism — Joyce’s first novel to employ stream-of-consciousness technique
• Folio Society editions are prized for their quality bindings, typography, and commissioned illustrations
• This second impression maintains the same production values as the first printing, with Keogh’s distinctive mid-century artwork
• A foundational text that remains on most “greatest novels of the 20th century” lists

FREQUENTLY ASKED

What edition is this? This is the 1966 second impression from The Folio Society, set in 11 point Bell type and illustrated by Brian Keogh. The first Folio Society impression was also published in 1966.

What condition is it in? The book is Near Fine with bright gilt, clean pages, and a tight binding. The slipcase is Very Good with minimal surface rubs. See full condition report below.

Does it include a dust jacket? No — Folio Society editions of this period were issued without dust jackets, housed instead in a paper-covered slipcase.

FOR COLLECTORS

Folio Society editions from the 1960s, particularly those of modern literary classics with original commissioned artwork, have grown steadily in collector interest. This copy’s Near Fine condition — with bright gilt lettering, clean gold top-stain, and a sound slipcase — makes it an excellent representative of Folio Society craftsmanship at its mid-century peak.

Book Details

Author: James Joyce

Illustrator: Brian Keogh

Publisher: The Folio Society

Binding: Hardcover

Edition Points: Second impression, 1966. Printed in Great Britain by W. & J. Mackay & Co Ltd. Set in 11 point Bell leaded 1 point. Presented in a tan paper-covered slipcase.

Condition Report

Overall Grade: Book: Near Fine / Slipcase: VG

Cover & Spine: Textured brown cloth boards featuring a black illustration of two figures on a bench. The spine features a green title block with bright, unfaded gilt lettering. Just the slightest bit of rub to the corners of the spine tail.

Dust Jacket: N/A (Issued in a slipcase. The brown/tan slipcase shows very minimal surface rubs in a few places, remaining structurally sound, no splits in seams).

Text Block & Pages: Top edge stained gold, bright and uniform. Pages are clean and off-white/cream. The side edge of the text block shows a few sparse, light foxing spots.

Binding: Square, tight, and firm.

See accompanying images for full condition details. Will ship promptly, carefully packaged.

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