The Joyce Girl

A Novel of Jazz Age Paris

By: Annabel Abbs

Narrated by: Leith McPherson

“Abbs has found a gripping and little-known story at the heart of one of the 20th century’s most astonishing creative moments, researched it deeply, and brought the extraordinary Joyce family and their circle in 1920s Paris to richly-imagined life.”—Emma Darwin, bestselling author of A Secret Alchemy and The Mathematics of Love

For readers who adored novels like The Paris Wife, Z, and Loving Frank, comes Annabel Abbs highly praised debut novel, where she spins the story of James Joyce’s fascinating, and tragic, daughter, Lucia.

“When she reaches her full capacity for rhythmic dancing, James Joyce may yet be known as his daughter’s father . . .”

The review in the Paris Times in November 1928 is rapturous in its praise of Lucia Joyce’s skill and artistry as a dancer. The family has made their home in Paris—where the latest ideas in art, music, and literature converge. Acolytes regularly visit the Joyce apartment to pay homage to Ireland’s exiled literary genius. Among them is a tall, thin young man named Samuel Beckett—a fellow Irish expat who idolizes Joyce and with whom Lucia becomes romantically involved.

Lucia is both gifted and motivated, training tirelessly with some of the finest teachers in the world. Though her father delights in his daughter’s talent, she clashes with her mother, Nora. And as her relationship with Beckett sours, Lucia’s dreams unravel, as does her hope of a life beyond her father’s shadow.

With Lucia’s behavior growing increasingly erratic, James Joyce sends her to pioneering psychoanalyst Carl Jung. Here, at last, she will tell her own story—a fascinating, heartbreaking account of thwarted ambition, passionate creativity, and the power of love to both inspire and destroy.

The Joyce Girl creates a compelling and moving account of the real-life Joyce Girl, of thwarted ambition and rejection, and of the destructive love of a father.

Unknown story of famous author’s daughter

Knew very little of James Joyce much less of his family this story reveals the hanger ons and groupies that artist of the time had and the limited freedom single women had. Lucinda was a dutiful daughter and her parent’s expectations of her to always be at their beck and call was shown. Even though one would expect the Joyce family to be keeping the modern mores of the roaring twenties that were a conservative traditional Irish family.
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I love the historical value of this book

It was such an interesting read, and I enjoyed it so much. Everything was perfect about it and I didn’t want the book to end. Strongly recommend reading this if you like historical fiction.

Rich with details and enthralling

This heartbreaking story an account of creativity unappreciated and misunderstood, left me wondering how many women were institutionalized unnecessarily.

Overly long but fascinating

The story was fascinating and the performance was very fine. However, I found the story overly drawn out. An hour could easily have been cut and never missed. I read another work by Ms Abbs that became one of my all-time favorite books.

snoozer

I was hopeful because I read another book by this author. But the pace was so slow and the details so overwrought I found my mind wandering to my grocery list and to-do list while the story was in progress. I won't finish this one.