The Sheila Variations

Exiles

Really interesting article about Joyce's only play. Lots of stuff I didn't know there. I've read the play and it does not have, how you say, the spark of genius. Some lovely writing ... but you don't ache to say the words out loud, like you do with other great playwrights. Joyce's genius lay elsewhere. It lay in the description of interior processes (among other things) - something not at all suited for the stage.

But still - it's a fascinating piece of work - in its own way, it's really vulnerable, really raw - because he's out of his element.