These photos also show the construction process of a custom cradle made from archival box board designed to support a book of Joyce's chamber music, whilst open throughout the exhibition.

SSJ B/1/1 Chamber Music, James Joyce

#conservation #nationalillustrationda #jamesjoyce #exploreyourarchive

We also look after the personal archive of Beckett’s close friend, James Joyce.

Never-before-seen papers from this remarkable collection will appear soon in our upcoming free exhibition, James Joyce: Enigmas and Puzzles. Opens 7 Oct.

collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...

We’re here for it

We are celebrating the opening of Joyce’s personal archive next year, and displaying items which reveal more about the author behind the puzzles of Ulysses and Finnegans Wake. The exhibition is in the Museum of English Rural life staircase hall from 7 Oct 2025 - 9 Feb 2026. More details to follow!

Here is a reminder of our first exhibition on Joyce’s love of language: collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...