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First authorized American edition, first printing, in the first state jacket. This major milestone for freedom of expression in America was conceived by Ernst Reichl, a "whole book designer" who devised the look of the contents, binding, and dust jacket. The result was "a functional and dramatic design that seemed as modern as the text itself" (Drew & Sternberger, p. 3). Appraising this edition, John Updike wrote that "the title's seven letters, in elongated and squared-off form, take up the entire front surface of the [jacket], echoing the mazelike course the characters pursue through a June day in Dublin". Reichl (1900-1980) himself described his Ulysses as "the best known design I ever made". The first state dust jacket has "Reichl" printed on the lower outer corner of the front panel. Following the American pirated edition of 1929, published by Samuel Roth, the Southern District of New York ruled on whether the text was too obscene to be legally published in the case United States v. One Book Called Ulysses. The foreword to this Random House edition triumphantly declares, "Judge Woolsey has exonerated Ulysses of the charge of obscenity, handing down an opinion that bids fair to become a major event in the history of the struggle for free expression. Joyce's masterpiece, for the circulation of which people have been branded criminals in the past, may now freely enter this country" (p. vii). The preliminaries also print Judge Woolsey's ruling in full and a First authorized American edition, first printing, in the first state jacket. This major milestone for freedom of expression in America was conceived by Ernst Reichl, a "whole book designer" who devised the look of the contents, binding, and dust jacket. The result was "a functional and dramatic design that seemed as modern as the text itself" (Drew & Sternberger, p. 3). Appraising this edition, John Updike wrote that "the title's seven letters, in elongated and squared-off form, take up the entire front surface of the [jacket], echoing the mazelike course the characters pursue through a June day in Dublin". Reichl (1900-1980) himself described his Ulysses as "the best known design I ever made". The first state dust jacket has "Reichl" printed on the lower outer corner of the front panel. Following the American pirated edition of 1929, published by Samuel Roth, the Southern District of New York ruled on whether the text was too obscene to be legally published in the case United States v. One Book Called Ulysses. The foreword to this Random House edition triumphantly declares, "Judge Woolsey has exonerated Ulysses of the charge of obscenity, handing down an opinion that bids fair to become a major event in the history of the struggle for free expression. Joyce's masterpiece, for the circulation of which people have been branded criminals in the past, may now freely enter this country" (p. vii). The preliminaries also print Judge Woolsey's ruling in full and a preface by Joyce, who comments on the transatlantic legal battles the work has faced and thanks Random House for fighting its case in America. READ MORE Octavo. Original cream cloth over bevelled boards, spine and front cover lettered in black and red, top edge red. With dust jacket by Ernst Reichl. With 4 full-page initials, including the frontispiece and the opening of the three parts. Pictorial bookplate of Charles J. Rosenbloom (1898-1973), philanthropist and president of the Rosenbloom Finance Company. Spine lightly toned; unclipped jacket spine toned and with shallow chip at ends, text unaffected, edges a little nicked, 3 cm closed tear at head of front flap: a near-fine copy in very good jacket. Slocum & Cahoon A21. Ned Drew & Paul Sternberger, By Its Cover: Modern American Book Cover Design, 2005; John Updike, "Deceptively Conceptual", New Yorker, 9 October 2005.

"Ulysses" is a complex and multi-layered novel that takes place over the course of a single day, June 16, 1904, in Dublin, Ireland. It follows the lives and experiences of three central characters: Stephen Dedalus, Leopold Bloom, and Molly Bloom. Stephen Dedalus is a young aspiring writer and artist, a character partially based on Joyce himself. He struggles with his identity, his relationship with his deceased mother, and his place in the world. Leopold Bloom, a middle-aged Jewish man, is the novel's central figure. He works as an advertisement canvasser and has a deep affection for his wife, Molly. Throughout the day, Bloom encounters various events and people as he navigates Dublin. His experiences and thoughts are depicted in a stream-of-consciousness narrative style, offering insight into his musings on life, love, and his surroundings. Molly Bloom, Leopold's wife, is introduced in the final episode of the book. Her interior monologue, famously known as the "Penelope" episode, showcases her thoughts, desires, and memories, providing a different perspective on the events of the day. The novel is divided into 18 episodes, each employing a different narrative technique, style, or literary device. Joyce experiments with language, employing puns, allusions, parodies, and various linguistic styles to reflect the characters' thoughts and the vibrant atmosphere of Dublin. "Ulysses" draws heavily on Homer's "The Odyssey," with each episode mirroring an episode in the ancient epic and paralleling the adventures of Odysseus. The title itself references the Latinized name of Odysseus, and the novel explores themes of journey, identity, exile, and the human condition. Throughout the book, Joyce tackles various aspects of human experience, including politics, religion, sexuality, art, mortality, and the mundane details of everyday life. The novel is celebrated for its rich literary innovations, intricate structure, and depth of meaning, but it's also renowned for its challenging and experimental nature, which can make it a demanding read for some audiences.