Brian Lombardo Dr. Reed 26 January 2010

 Born February 2, 1882 in Dublin  Father passed away when he was 2 years old  When James was 6, his mother remarried and abandoned him  Attended Meath Protestant Industrial School for Boys  brutal, ruthless treatment at Meath  ran away and became homeless, living with various charitable families and on the streets of Dublin

 Began working as a typist in a solicitor’s office  1905 – First story, “The Greatest Miracle”, published in the newspaper The United Irishman by Arthur Griffith, an Irish Nationalist  1907 – began contributing to Sinn Fein, Griffith’s magazine dedicated to the Irish Nationalist cause

 “ We Ourselves”  Emerged in early 1900’s  Organizations of Nationalist Groups, working for Irish Home Rule  1916 – Contemporary critics called the Easter Rising the “Sinn Fein Rebellion”  1917 – After the party was reorganized, it upset the Assembly of Ireland party in the 1918 general election

 1907 – at his job at the solicitor’s office, he was introduced to poet George Russell  Russell introduced him to other notable Irish persons, including Yeats, Lady Gregory, and George Moore  Took classes on the Gaelic League and became politically active  Published various pieces dealing with Irish Nationalism, encouraging readers to remember Irish ancient tales and traditions

 Published in 1912, his most notable work  Written as a children’s story, but held various philosophical undertones and criticisms  The work ingeniously condemns organized occupations (doctors, businessmen, etc.) and the religious class for narrowing the abilities of the human mind  Also comments humorously on Irish gender relations  Won the Polignac Prize for fiction in 1912

 Because of the tremendous success enjoyed by Crock of Gold, Stephens retired as a typist  Moved to Paris to work full-time as a writer  1919 – Married Cynthia Kavanagh, his lover of 12 years  Moved back to Dublin in 1915 and held the position of Registrar of the National Gallery of Ireland until 1924

 During the Rebellion in Easter 1916, Stephens saw a man being shot  This event impacted his later literary products.  Directly recounted in his 1916 The Insurrection in Dublin.  Evidence can be seen of his stronger Irish pride and attention to Irish literature from an earlier time

 Philosophical  Combination of fantasy and realism  Humorous  Display Irish National Pride and desire for Irish home-rule  Accurate depictions of traditional Irish culture and traditions  Presence of varied characters, with whom many readers could relate

 Mixture of Short Stories, Poems, and Novels  Poetry Collections: Insurrections (1909) Reincarnations (1918) The Kings and the Moon (1938)  Short stories: “Hunger” (1918) “Etched in Moonlight” (1928)  Novels: The Charwoman’s Daughter (1912)

My enemy came nigh, And I Stared fiercely in his face. My lips went writhing back in a grimace, And stern I watched him with a narrow eye. Then, as I turned away, my enemy, That bitter heart and savage, said to me: "Some day, when this is past, When all the arrows that we have are cast, We may ask one another why we hate, And fail to find a story to relate. It may seem then to us a mystery That we should hate each other." Thus said he, And did not turn away, Waiting to hear what I might have to say, But I fled quickly, fearing had I stayed I might have kissed him as I would

 Moved to London  Became a broadcaster for the BBC  1935 – Developed a friendship with James Joyce  1937 – began giving lectures on the BBC on poetry  Decline in physical health and mental capacity  1950 – died in London, England on December 26

 Academic Search Complete. Stephens, James. Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia   Martin, Augustine. James Stephens: A Critical Study  stephens/  