Books

Ulysses by James Joyce. Shakespeare and Company, 12, Rue de l'Od�on. 5th Printing (of the First Edition), September, 1924. Original wrappers bound in contemporary hardcover binding, 736 pp, 8.25 x 6.5", 8vo. In poor condition. As is. Both boards detached from binding. Cloth boards scuffed at edges and worn/bumped at corners. Front board slightly bowed. Head and tail of cloth spine lacking; binding exposed. Leather title label intact; gilt lettering rubbed from normal shelf-wear but still attractive. Modern marbled end-pages detached from binding. Both cream-colored front and rear original covers are lightly toned & scuffed at edges, but otherwise clean and intact (blue lettering has lightened but is still attractive). Text-block leaves are extremely brittle & chip easily. Original front end-page, fly-leaf and half-title page detached from binding & chipped at all edges. Rear end-page and fly-leaf also chipped at all edges. Leaves are browned from age-related wear. A complete work - all original pages present, including front and rear covers. Binding is fragile; perfect candidate for restoration. Please see photos and ask questions, if any, before purchasing. Ulysses is a modernist novel by the Irish writer James Joyce (1882-1941). Parts of it were first serialized in the American journal The Little Review from March 1918 to December 1920, and the entire work was published in Paris by Sylvia Beach's Shakespeare and Company on 2 February 1922, Joyce's fortieth birthday. It is considered one of the most important works of modernist literature. The novel chronicles the experiences of three Dubliners over the course of a single day, 16 June 1904. Ulysses is the Latinised name of Odysseus, the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey, and the novel establishes a series of parallels between Leopold Bloom and Odysseus, Molly Bloom and Penelope, and Stephen Dedalus and Telemachus. There are also correspondences with other literary and mythological figures, and such themes as antisemitism, human sexuality, British rule in Ireland, Catholicism, and Irish nationalism are treated in the context of early 20th-century Dublin. The novel is highly allusive and written in a variety of styles. The Fifth Printing was published two years after the First printing. The first seven printings were carried out by Daranti�re in Dijon from the same plates. The fourth through the seventh printing were printed on poorer quality paper & bound in white wrappers with blue lettering. Leaves are brittle & tanned. However, work remains a reading copy. Original wrappers bound in contemporary hardcover binding. RAREF1924HQSW 05/24 - HK1649 FORN-SHELF-0465-BB-2410-HKREV224.

"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.