Samuel Beckett
Digital Manuscript ProjectNot I / Pas moi

Catalogue

Due to an agreement with the Estate of Samuel Beckett and the publishers of Beckett's work, the digital edition of Not I / Pas moi only contains draft versions leading up to the publication of the text (the so-called 'avant-texte'), including page proofs. It therefore excludes epigenetic material such as later annotated editions.

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MS-TCD-4664 (AS1)

'Héraklès' exercise book with stiff yellow cover and black spine, stitched. Illustration of a figure with a bow. Squared paper lined in blue. Evidence of the removal of many pages at the back without obvious loss of text. Beckett's accompanying card, MS 4664/i [see flyleafrecto], identifies the contents as 'Fragments of theatre' and 'Beginning of French translation of Words & Music'. 271 x 209 mm. i, 23 (+20 blank) fols, ms.

Maxwell, Jane (2006), 'The Samuel Beckett Manuscripts at Trinity College Library Dublin'. Samuel Beckett Today/Aujourd'hui 16, p. 188.

Abbreviated in the Manuscript Chronology as AS1.

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MS-UoR-2927 (AS2)

Notebook containing original holograph manuscript notes for an unpublished, abandoned play in French. Dated Ussy, February 1967 on f. 1, also Ussy, April 1968 on f. 16. Squared-paper exercise book, 20 x 15 cm. [...] Notebook in Italian 'La vita degli animali' series, with a colour photograph of a beaver on the front cover, a fawn on the back. Inscribed by Beckett on front cover 'PETIT ODÉON FRAGMENTS' in blue ball-pen. No pagination. [...] Material is written in black and blue inks.

Bryden, Mary, Julian Garforth, and Peter Mills (1998), Beckett at Reading: Catalogue of the Beckett Manuscript Collection at the University of Reading (Reading: Whiteknights Press and the Beckett International Foundation), p. 72.

Abbreviated in the Manuscript Chronology as AS2.

MS-UoR-1227-7-16-3 (AS3)

Typescript, with manuscript additions and corrections by Samuel Beckett, of an unpublished play in French. Undated. 27 x 21 cm. 4 leaves. Inscribed 'for Reading University Library. Sam. Beckett' and 'Petit Odéon' on f. 1 and f. 3. Pagination found only on f. 2, in type. Manuscript material in black ink.

Abbreviated in the Manuscript Chronology as AS3.

MS-UoR-1227-7-12-1 (EM1)

Untitled original manuscript of Not I. Black ink pen [...]. Dated 20 March 1972-21 April 1972. 27 x 21 cm. [5] leaves. [...] The first date, Paris, 20 March 1972, appears at the top of the first page, and the fifth page is dated Paris, 1 April 1972. Stage directions are given in the top and left-hand margins of the first page. On the back of page five, labelled 6 by Beckett, under heading 'Addenda', three passages are added. These passages continue on the back of page 4, labelled 7 by Beckett and again headed 'Addenda'. This page contains passages labelled D to H, developing sections on, for example, the beam, or the brain begging, and a note on the Auditor's movements. It is dated 21 April 1972.

Abbreviated in the Manuscript Chronology as EM1.

MS-UoR-1227-7-12-2 (ET1)

Untitled typescript, with manuscript additions and corrections in black ink, of a revised fragment of [EM1]. F. 1 labelled 'I' and inscribed 'for Reading University Library, Sam. Beckett'. 27 x 21cm. [sic] 2 leaves. This typescript is a revised version of the first two pages and the beginning of the third page of [EM1], incorporating the latter's corrections. The corrections here are made in black ink and type, found in the text and the margin. There is a deleted 'House lights' in Beckett's hand at the top of f. 1.

Abbreviated in the Manuscript Chronology as ET1.

MS-UoR-1227-7-12-3 (ET2)

Untitled typescript, with manuscript additions and corrections. F. 1 lettered 'II' and inscribed 'for Reading University Library - Sam. Beckett'. 27 x 21 cm. 5 leaves. [...] Extensively corrected, with staging instructions added to f. 1, in black ink, to top and bottom margins. Final leaf is headed 'A'.

Abbreviated in the Manuscript Chronology as ET2.

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MS-UoR-1227-7-12-1-analysis (EM2)

The BDMP catalogue separates the draft material on the first five folios of MS-UoR-1227-7-12 (EM1) from the 'Analysis' in EM2 (01r). This page is undated and contains fourteen sections based on different themes. Corrections and additions are in black and red ink.

Abbreviated in the Manuscript Chronology as EM2.

MS-UoR-1227-7-12-4 (ET3)

Untitled typescript with manuscript additions and corrections. F. 1. lettered 'III' and inscribed 'for Reading University Library. Samuel Beckett'. 30 x 21 cm. 5 leaves. Each of the Auditor's movements, preceded by a pause, is indicated in the margin of the text. The passages A to C have been typed out, and are indicated in the text. Passages D to H of the Addenda are not included, but the point of their insertion is marked by the corresponding letter. Heavily corrected in black ink, in text and margins, relating to spoken text and directions.

Abbreviated in the Manuscript Chronology as ET3.

MS-UoR-1227-7-12-5 (ET4)

Typescript, with manuscript additions and corrections, headed 'Not I'. F. 1 lettered 'IV' and inscribed 'for Reading University Library. Sam. Beckett'. 30 x 21 cm. 5 leaves. Moderately corrected in black ink and type.

Abbreviated in the Manuscript Chronology as ET4.

MS-UoR-1227-7-12-6 (ET5)

Typescript of Not I with manuscript additions and corrections in black ink and red ball pen. F. 1 lettered 'V' and inscribed 'for Reading University Library. Samuel Beckett'. 27 x 21 cm. 6 leaves. This typescript contains various calculations by Beckett. In the top margin, Beckett has divided the text into three sections. Each of these sections is accompanied by a number relating to the number of typewritten lines: eighty-nine, eighty-four, and fifty respectively.

Abbreviated in the Manuscript Chronology as ET5.

MS-UoR-1227-7-12-7 (ET6)

Typescript of Not I with manuscript additions and corrections in black and red ink and type. F. 1 lettered 'VI' and inscribed 'for Reading University Library, Sam. Beckett'. 27 x 21 cm. 6 leaves. The main corrections here are the pauses added in red pen.

Abbreviated in the Manuscript Chronology as ET6.

MS-UoR-1227-7-12-8 (ET7)

Stencilled typescript with minor manuscript additions and corrections. F. 1 inscribed 'for Reading University [...] with all good wishes, Samuel Beckett, London Jan. 1973'. 33 x 21 cm. 6 leaves. Moderately corrected in two types of black ink.

Abbreviated in the Manuscript Chronology as ET7.

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MS-UoR-1227-7-12-10-synopsis (ET8)

Typescript of synopsis of Not I. F. 1 inscribed 'for Reading University Library, Sam. Beckett'. 30 x 21cm. [sic] One leaf + carbon copy. Headed 'NOT I - synopsis'. This synopsis distinguishes five movements throughout the play, and lists the themes or motifs of the text as they occur. Beckett also refers to the five 'life-scenes' in the text: field, shopping centre, Croker's Acres, courtroom, rushing out to tell.

Abbreviated in the Manuscript Chronology as ET8.

MS-HRC-SB-5-4 (RC playscript)

Not I and Krapp's Last Tape. Mimeographed acting versions. London: Royal Court Theatre [1972]. Folio, loose in sheets within red paper covers.

Lake, Carlton (1984), No Symbols Where None Intended: A Catalogue of Books, Manuscripts and Other Material Relating to Samuel Beckett in the Collections of the Humanities Research Center (Austin: Humanities Research Center, University of Texas at Austin), p. 155, item 372.

Abbreviated in the Manuscript Chronology as RC playscript.

MS-HRC-SB-5-3 (FSC)

Corrected copy of RC playscript, containing nine pages. Marked 'Corrected copy for Faber / December 72' in black ink on title page. Inscribed 'for John & Evelyn [Kobler] / with love from Sam / Paris Feb. 1973'. This was used by Faber as setting copy for their first edition of Not I.

Abbreviated in the Manuscript Chronology as FSC.

MS-UoR-1396-4-25 (FM1)

Untitled original manuscript of Samuel Beckett's translation of Not I into French. 27 x 21 cm. 5 leaves. Dated 1 March 1973 and 13 March 1973. There are no stage directions, and the entire text is crossed through. Written and corrected in black ink. Pagination by Beckett in black ink, ff. 2-5. Corrections in text and, infrequently, margin. Text heavily corrected in itself. Doodles on f. 2, adjacent to the breakdown in composition of the opening section denoted by a space and change of ink. Despite abandoning this draft, Beckett did perform much correction on the text, most notably the later portion, ff. 3-5.

Abbreviated in the Manuscript Chronology as FM1.

MS-UoR-1396-4-26 (FM2)

Untitled original manuscript of Samuel Beckett's translation of Not I into French. Dated 2-19 May 1974. 27 x 21 cm. 8 leaves. This version includes stage directions, underlined, and refers to two passages from the scriptures. This is a complete draft of the translation. Moderately corrected via small-scale deletions and substitutions of single words. Notes throughout in the left-hand margins.

Abbreviated in the Manuscript Chronology as FM2.

MS-UoR-1396-4-27 (FT1)

Typescript comprises 8 leaves. Leaves 2-7 are 30 cm. First leaf (12 x 21 cm) appears to have been sellotaped to top of leaf 2. Final leaf (9 x 21 cm) appears to have been sellotaped to bottom of leaf 7.

Pagination by Beckett runs 1-6, on ff. 2-7; first leaf unnumbered. This version contains many revisions, made in black ink in the text and the margins. These are, in the main, revisions to single words, short phrases and word order.

http://www.reading.ac.uk/adlib/Details/archive/110074974; Bryden, Mary, Julian Garforth, and Peter Mills (1998), Beckett at Reading: Catalogue of the Beckett Manuscript Collection at the University of Reading (Reading: Whiteknights Press and the Beckett International Foundation), p. 68.

Abbreviated in the Manuscript Chronology as FT1.

MS-BnF-4-COL-344-27 (FT2)

Typescript of Pas moi, containing title page and typewritten synopsis of the play. Nine sheets in total, featuring handwritten marks in black ink (in Beckett's hand) as well as blue ink and pencil (not in Beckett's hand). Some of the synopsis is missing due to a large tear on folio 02r.

Fonds Roger Blin, Bibliothèque nationale de France (https://archivesetmanuscrits.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cc134394/ca19939350).

Abbreviated in the Manuscript Chronology as FT2.

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MS-BnF-4-COL-178-970 (FT3)

Photocopy of Pas moi with handwritten annotations. Seven pages, including title page. There are handwritten edits in (now) pink ink, red ink, black ink, blue-black ink and what looks like pencil.

Fonds Renaud-Barrault, Bibliothèque nationale de France (https://archivesetmanuscrits.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cc588917/ca1138).

Abbreviated in the Manuscript Chronology as FT3.