Books

London and New York: Various publishers, 1932-1998. Collection of several editions of Joyce's masterpiece Ulysses. The collection is comprised of a first American edition of Ulysses [New York: Random House, 1934]; early printing of the Unlimited edition of Ulysses [London: The Bodley Head, 1949]; the Odyssey Press edition of Ulysses in two volumes [Hamburg: The Odyssey Press, 1932]; early printing of the New edition of Ulysses in a dust jacket [London: The Bodley Head, 1967]; facsimile edition of the first edition of Ulysses housed in a custom full buckram box [Shelton: The First Edition Library, n.d.]; facsimile edition of the second edition of Ulysses [London: The Folio Society, 1998]; a first American edition of Finnegans Wake [New York: The Viking Press, 1939]; and two others. Each volume is in near fine to fine condition. A unique set illustrating the evolution of this great literary work. James Joyce's Ulysses was first published by Shakespeare and Company, Paris, in…

"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.