[Joe] Biden received a first-edition copy of “Anna Livia Plurabelle” signed by the author, James Joyce, and valued at $3,500. The story is a chapter from the Irish writer’s famously complex novel, “Finnegan’s Wake.”
The giver was Margaret Spanel of Hightstown, N.J., a donor to Democratic candidates. The information was included in Biden’s annual financial disclosure report, released Monday.
Spanel, 97, sent the book to Biden after hearing him say Joyce was his favorite poet, the vice president’s office said…
May 18th, 2010 at 6:53AM
Sure, Joe. It was a tough call between Pindar, Petrarch, Keats, and Joyce, but Joyce it is.
May 18th, 2010 at 7:44AM
I did think it was a bit strange that he called Joyce his favorite poet. Of all that Joyce did, the poetry was the thinnest…
May 18th, 2010 at 8:15AM
Neil Kinnock remains his favorite speechwriter.
May 18th, 2010 at 8:36AM
Ms. Spanel, an environmental activist, is I believe the widow of the inventor of spandex and the latex bra.
May 18th, 2010 at 11:33PM
Margaret, the “Office of the Vice President” is not necessarily a he: it could be any spokesman on hand to talk to the press. And who knows, maybe that spokesman meant Joyce Kilmer!
May 20th, 2010 at 6:43PM
He was probably referring to Joyce Carol Kilmer.