Poems and Parodies. Dublin: Talbot Press, 1916. First Edition. Pp, 86, uncut. Frontispiece portrait of the author. Quarter linen, paper boards, title in gilt to upper cover & on spine. Light shelf-wear to covers, contents in nice bright condition.

Presentation copy, inscribed by Mary Kettle on front free endpaper: “For General Hammond, In Grateful Memory of Your Sincere Friendship for my Dear Husband. Mary S. Kettle.”

General Hammond was Chief Staff Officer of the 16th (Irish) Division in which Kettle served.

Tom Kettle (1880-1916) – Irish Patriot, Essayist, Poet, served on the western front during the Great War, where he died in September 1916. This edition contains a short biographical introduction by William Dawson.

Mary Kettle (nee Sheehy) was a sister of suffragist and Sinn Féin activist Hanna Sheehy Skeffington. Hanna’s husband Francis Skeffington co-published ‘Two Essays’  with James Joyce’s in 1901 while students together in UCD. Both were prominent members of UCD’s  Literary and Historical Society. Kettle reviewed Joyce’s first published volume ‘Chamber Music’ in the Freeman’s Journal on June1907. At one time considered by Joyce to be his closest friend in Ireland, they later had a falling out over Joyce’s attempt to get ‘Dubliners’ published by Maunsel & Co, in 1912.  Joyce was at one time was romantically interested in Mary, and the Sheehy family were reportedly relieved when she turned instead to the more reliable Tom.