"Samuel Beckett lectured on modern French literature at his old university, Trinity College, in 1930 - 1931 but those lectures are not widely known and have rarely been studied. This is one of the least known periods of Beckett's life. He had just returned from Paris where he had met James Joyce and had started his literary career but had not yet written his first novel." "In 1930 Rachel Burrows studied French at Trinity College and her notes of Beckett's lectures have recently been found in the archives of Trinity College. Brigitte Le Juez is the first writer to fully study these lectures, the most complete record of Beckett the young intellectual, and a valuable guide to the inspirations behind his work and concept of literature."--Jacket.