Noble Rot

Abstract

I offer two points here, one embedded in the other. First, I have found myself becoming increasingly convinced that Finnegans Wake is a letter in a bottle. What follows are some reasons. The book originates in Boston—‘‘North Armorica’’—from where what is sometimes called the North Atlantic Drift would have carried it to Ireland via the Gulf Stream, in which, as Stephen reminds us, ‘‘all Ireland is washed’’ (U 1.476). We also have this passage from ALP’s farewell at the Wake’s end: