Books

London: John Lane The Bodley Head, 1936. No. 99 of 100 copies on mouldmade paper, signed by Joyce. Title page printed in blue and black. [xvi], 766 pp. 1 vols. Tall 8vo. Original vellum over boards with gilt Homeric bow after design by Eric Gill, teg, other edges untrimmed, some toning to vellum with faint marking to covers, light spotting to edges of text block, endpapers, and margins of preliminary and terminal leaves; in original slipcase, rather scuffed and edge worn, but completely intact, with no splitting to the fragile joints, as often encountered, printed label with some marks and scuffing. No. 99 of 100 copies on mouldmade paper, signed by Joyce. Title page printed in blue and black. [xvi], 766 pp. 1 vols. Tall 8vo. Published following the legal success of the 1934 Random House Ulysses trial, which established the principle that a "classic" work was allowed greater flexibility when it came to conventional morality, coupled with the luxuriousness and expense of this…

"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.