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Lot Essay
In 1905 Stephens published his first short story in Arthur Griffith's nationalist newspaper, the United Irishman, later renamed Sinn Féin, which became the official voice for the new Sinn Féin political party. Following early success he began to publish regularly in the paper, essays on poetry and ethics, idealistic verses and propaganda.
In 1911 Stephens was one of the founders of the Irish Review, which provided a forum for Irish artists, substantially occupied with short stories by Stephens that were subsequently published as two of his most popular novels; The Charwoman's Daughter (1912) and The Crock of Gold (1912).
Rothenstein first met Stephens in Ireland in 1922, when he was still involved with Sinn Féin. Of Stephens' writing Rothenstein said 'His later books, which deal with Irish mythology, making the old stories live as though he were writing of exciting current events, impress me as being amongst the wisest and most beautiful of our generation' (W. Rothenstein, Since Fifty: Men and Memories, 1922-1938, New York, 1940, p. 86).
In 1923 Stephens moved to London, to give a series of popular lectures, and he remained in England until his death continuing to give talks both in person, and recorded and broadcast by the BBC. In 1927 he developed a friendship with James Joyce, the Irish poet and novelist, which was so strong that when Joyce felt disheartened by his lack of progress with Finnegans Wake, he asked Stephens to complete the novel for him.
In 1911 Stephens was one of the founders of the Irish Review, which provided a forum for Irish artists, substantially occupied with short stories by Stephens that were subsequently published as two of his most popular novels; The Charwoman's Daughter (1912) and The Crock of Gold (1912).
Rothenstein first met Stephens in Ireland in 1922, when he was still involved with Sinn Féin. Of Stephens' writing Rothenstein said 'His later books, which deal with Irish mythology, making the old stories live as though he were writing of exciting current events, impress me as being amongst the wisest and most beautiful of our generation' (W. Rothenstein, Since Fifty: Men and Memories, 1922-1938, New York, 1940, p. 86).
In 1923 Stephens moved to London, to give a series of popular lectures, and he remained in England until his death continuing to give talks both in person, and recorded and broadcast by the BBC. In 1927 he developed a friendship with James Joyce, the Irish poet and novelist, which was so strong that when Joyce felt disheartened by his lack of progress with Finnegans Wake, he asked Stephens to complete the novel for him.