Books

Dublin: Lilliput Press, 1997. No. 3 OF 100 SPECIAL COPIES of the "Illegal" First Dublin Edition, bound in quarter leather and signed by Rose and Banville (from a total edition of 1,000 numbered and 26 lettered copies). 240 x 158 mm. (9 1/2 x 6 1/4"). 4 p.l., v-lxxxiii, [1], 739, [3] pp.Edited by Danis Rose. With a foreword by John Banville. Publisher's quarter blue morocco over navy cloth boards, smooth spine with silver lettering. In a blue buckram slipcase. ◆In mint condition. This is the first printing of Joyce's masterpiece actually to be done in Ireland--75 years after its initial publication. Generally recognized as the most important 20th-century novel in English, Joyce's chronicle of Leopold Bloom's odyssey through Dublin excited much controversy upon publication in 1922 and was for years a target of censorship, especially in the U.S. and U.K. The present edition also met with some animosity when it was discovered that the editor, prominent Joyce scholar Danis Rose,…

"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.

The first edition features blue wrappers.