Books

First Ulysses printed in Britain. Thick quarto. Hand-numbered as 10 of 100 deluxe copies and SIGNED by Joyce to colophon; bound in full vellum, with gilt-stamped boards designed by Eric Gill with Homeric bow motif. This much-anticipated luxury edition of James Joyce's opus—advertised by Bodley Head as the work's "final and definitive" edition, with proofs corrected by Joyce himself—was published after the landmark 1933 trial US v. One Book Called Ulysses, in which Random House successfully challenged the work's American publication ban for obscenity; a legal history that's represented by three appendices of materials reproduced at rear. This copy with bump to top of spine, minor thumb-soling to vellum, and dusting to edges of textblock. Overall: a close to near fine copy with remarkably crisp interior and firm hinges. Accompanied by the publisher's original patterned slipcase—now increasingly uncommon—with Bodley Head label affixed to front panel. Slipcase shows some…

"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.