Madam, – Bridget Hourican’s interesting article on “Ulysses in real life” (Weekend Review, June 12th) highlights the extent to which the family heritage of many ordinary Dubliners is recorded in Joyce’s novel. I trust she won’t mind my quibbling with her reference to Major Malachi Powell (the model for Molly Bloom’s father, “Major Tweedy”), my great, great grandfather, whom she writes “called himself Major Powell, though he was only sergeant-major”. This is not quite true.
On his retirement as a Captain and Riding Master in 1886 he was promoted to Major on Reserve of the Volunteer Military Force, recognition for many years service – as shown by a surviving letter from a superior officer. Although it seems a small point, some scholars have used the uncertainty over his military rank as background to Joyce’s characterisation of Tweedy as garrulous, fraudulent and opportunistic. Powell’s real character remains obscure – and though he may well have been the chancer depicted by Joyce – his rank, albeit honorary, was legitimate. – Yours etc,
ANDREW TIERNEY
Gallery Quay, Dublin 2.