The Cat and the Devil

A delightful children’s story by James Joyce in a gorgeously illustrated new edition.

This gorgeously illustrated picturebook brings back the delightful children’s story written by Ireland’s greatest writer, author of the Modernist masterpiece Ulysses, James Joyce.

Originally written for Joyce’s grandson, Stephen, the story has long been out of print in English due to uncertainty surrounding its copyright status. A recent change in copyright law emboldens Little Island to bring out a new edition.

On 10 August 1936, James Joyce wrote a letter to his grandson Stephen. In the letter he told, in simple language, the story of how the Devil built a bridge across the river at the town of Beaugency. As usual, the Devil wanted a high price for his gift. But the clever mayor of the town outwitted the Devil by making use of the Devil’s fondness for cats.

This was an old French story but Joyce gave the mayor the name of a famous mayor of his own home town of Dublin in Ireland: the popular politician and character, Alfie Byrne.