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Well, I think it's one of those many books that a great many people buy and don't read. Maybe many read the last part to see the dirty words. In 1933, that sort of thing was shocking to the general public.

How can it continue to sell?

Because it's a great book.

I know. But if people don't really read it, how can it continue?

Now they do. But at first I think it was a book like Dr. Zhivago, which thousands of people bought but didn't read. There are certain books that it's considered smart to own and put on prominent display.

Would you like to discuss Joyce further?

We almost lured him to America once, but he was afraid of boats. At the last minute he welched. By this time he had moved to Switzerland, and had received quite a lot of money from us. His Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and The Dubliners were also selling well. Joyce was now an established literary figure. Then Finnegan's Wake came out. Viking Press has everything of his except Ulysses.

You never were able to get his other books?