Ulysses

By: James Joyce

Narrated by: Jim Norton

Length: 27 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Ulysses is regarded by many as the single most important novel of the 20th century. It tells the story of one day in Dublin, June 16th 1904, largely through the eyes of Stephen Dedalus (Joyce's alter ego from Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man) and Leopold Bloom, an advertising salesman. Both begin a normal day, and both set off on a journey around the streets of Dublin, which eventually brings them into contact with one another.

While Bloom's passionate wife, Molly, conducts yet another illicit liasion (with her concert manager), Bloom finds himself getting into arguments with drunken nationalists and wild carousing with excitable medical students, before rescuing Stephen Dedalus from a brawl and returning with him to his own basement kitchen.

In the hands of Jim Norton and Marcella Riordan, experienced and stimulating Joycean readers, and carefully directed by Roger Marsh, Ulysses becomes accessible as never before. It is entertaining, immediate, funny, and rich in classical, philosophical, and musical allusion.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

(P)2004 NAXOS AudioBooks Ltd.

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Finalist, Classics, 2005

"As ambitious and rewarding an audio production as any that exists, an audio experience that truly deserves to be cherished....Readers of Ulysses have long been encouraged to read out loud the more difficult sections for added comprehension and enjoyment of the language. Now, thanks to Naxos, the entire book is available in a performance to savor. It is safe to say that anyone wanting to experience the preeminent work of modern fiction has in this package the perfect audio companion." (AudioFile)

Aaaaaaaa

What would a book written by an Oxford educated meth-head with adhd on cocaine in single sitting be like? Like this. Like this book.

If you must read it but have no time, this is it

Everything about this performance screams 1913, even the music. Turns out Molly is rather a very modern woman. Loved every minute of it.

A lot of words for little taking place

Honestly, I switched off for two or three or three chapters, by god it tended to ramble on which I may believe could be truly appreciated in text as spoken it just sounded like gibberish. The performance was well presented nonetheless and the last two chapters from Molly’s perspective really was fascinating. As I’m not that well versed in the study of literature it was rather long winded and very little took place or got confusing with strange lexicon and syntax. Still, it had a charm which kept me hooked and I liked how realistic the world was described, perhaps too much information was given but that’s the idea. Having recently listened to the Odyssey I cannot see any relation yo this story other than the titles. A confusing story to follow as nothing really happens to unlikeable characters, I feel the main characters Leopold Bloom was not a nice guy at all, a bit of a pervert and Molly in the end who is portrayed as a bit of a villainous character as an adulterer becomes redeemed in the end a far more interesting and realistic character in only the last two chapters. Read it better than listen to it, it tends to ramble on and I think some of its magic may be lost from listening. Maybe.

Uh...It Was An Experiance

I'll be honest, this is by no means light reading, and I went into this seeking something that would challenge my mind. I appreciated Joyce's depiction of life in early 20th century Ireland and how he showed it completely rounded and even focused on less mentioned aspects such as the general anti-semetism. It is also clear that Joyce was quick the literary ventriloquist, and clearly never met a writing style he never liked. I also liked Simon Bloom's internal monologues, and Buck Mulogan was a cheeky fellow

Having said that, at times it felt more like the book was focused on being clever and doing literary tricks, and the plot and general experience of the novel suffered because of this. Actually, this was a recurring problem I had with this novel. I also feel I'd have better appreciated this novel is studied in a class rather than read on my own. Maybe I'd have a better appreciation rather than feeling it might be more than a little overhyped. I'd been on a literary kick, but after this book I dove back into the world of genre.

Overall, it was...an, um, experience. If nothing else

Difficult, but worthwhile

What did you love best about Ulysses?

The stream of consciousness inner monologues. Joyce was a master with this.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Ulysses?

The park/beach scene where the girl flirts with Bloom from afar.

Which character – as performed by Jim Norton – was your favorite?

Edward Bloom.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Bloom realizes why the girl in the beach/park didn't run with the other girls.

Any additional comments?

Hard to get through in parts, but the morsels are worth the journey. Will have to redo in some years.

Incredible performance

Narration was incredible and helped me through this very dense and rich novel--rewarding and worth the effort. Molly's narrator too was very good, would have a preferred a better singer but wouldn't deduct a star for that. The musical choices were a treat for this opera lover although a bit questionable at times--why put Leporello's "list aria" before the Ithaca chapter? But again, a minor quibble...gorgeous writing, and I think it was Roald Dahl who said, "Don't worry about the parts you don't understand, just let the words flow around you, like music."

Brilliant

Reading of this difficult brilliant book is brilliantly performed. Making thoughts, characters, fragments and songs come alive is no easy task, but it has been, let me say, brilliantly executed.

A masterwork.

Worth listening to it all. Even when it is hard to follow. Just listen to the music of the words.

Magnificently written by Joyce, magnificently read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The one essential book of the twentieth century read by one of the best Irish stage actors.

What other book might you compare Ulysses to and why?

The Bible because Joyce's Ulysses sets a standard for prose and poetry in the 20th and 21st century and in Bloom, an Irish Jew, it is the story of every man. No book is so thick with concrete sensuous prose, no book is so rich in diverse writing styles.

Which character – as performed by Jim Norton – was your favorite?

Buck Mulligan because every college English major has had the pleasure of a Buck Mulligan type on tap with a fine head of booze.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A day like no other so filled with the sensuous delight of intimate immediacy.

Any additional comments?

A heartfelt humorous exposure of humankind.

can't understand a word

for me the narration is very difficult to understand. inflections and drastic changes in volume make it impossible for me to enjoy or follow. constantly having to adjust the volume on radio up or down for risk of missing an important sentence or getting my ear drum ruptured by some boisterous bit of monolog