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)

Exhilarating

I could never have read this classic, but as a spoken book with the amazing narration it was achievable. At times it was excruciating, at times exhilarating, like plunging into cold water, or ripping off a band aid, some sections I could only do a minute at a time, I felt a great sense of achievement when I got to the end. If you ever felt compelled to explore this infamous book, this is a great way to do it.

An important way to experience this book

Where does Ulysses rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I believe "Ulysses" to be the greatest work in the English language--let's get that out of the way first.

It is, however, a challenging book, and it becomes more so every year, as we get further and further away from June 16, 1904. Many of the reference would have been accessible when the book was published less than two decades later, but many of them are lost to history now without a guide. Which is why various works that accompany the text are a great way to discover the richness of the book.

But I also believe that hearing the book read aloud--PROPERLY--is helpful in a completely different way. Joyce's lyricism simply doesn't jump off the page if you're unfamiliar with the Dublin references. Jim Norton is positively brilliant in rendering them, and in rendering the various idiosyncratic voices that make the novel come alive.

I very much recommend this as part of diving into the world of James Joyce's greatest work. The music of his writing is something nobody has come close to achieving.

A great performance of a overrated work

The narrator does an amazing job of bringing to life a work of mad genius. However I did not care for the "book" as a whole. It was broken, fragmented, and in general an exercise in what can be, not what should be. The first story arc as well as the last chapter were the redeeming qualities of this work of fiction, that was otherwise nearly intolerable.

Incredible narration of a difficult book.

Would you listen to Ulysses again? Why?

Maybe. I think I would get a book with footnotes to help with understanding it.

Any additional comments?

Again, the narration was possibly my favorite of all the books I have listened to. Great emotion, pacing, clarity.

Not for me

Would you try another book from James Joyce and/or Jim Norton?

Not sure. Jim Norton was great but I just couldn't get through this.

Any additional comments?

I really tried with this book - twice. I found it tedious to listen to as there is really no "plot" just rambling thoughts and everyday actions. I'm sure it was all leading somewhere but I have no idea where and worse ... I didn't care. I've listened to several hundred books - Ive been an audible member for a long time and this was the first book I didn't finish. Maybe I'll try again another time and the third time will be a charm. I gave it three stars because I know it's a classic and seemed unfair to rate lower without finishing.

Brilliant and entertaining performance

282. Ulysses by James Joyce (Novel-E Book & Audible-Fiction) 5* They say the third time is the charm...or so it goes. Perhaps the most challenging book I will ever read, it most certainly fits the bill for now. Welcome to the world of Irish writer James Joyce, and it's anything but pretty. Known as one of the most celebrated works of British literature I delve into this world. Joyce is quite the loquacious writer with a developed knowledge of foreign phrases and some of the most intricate words in the English language, so the dictionary was my constant companion. Not far into the book I am reading about Stephen, while contemplating he picks his nose and wipes the proceeds of the endeavor on a rock. Ok...on to the next protagonist, Leopold Bloom, I'm reading about a visit to the jakes and his relieving his bowels and next stop the public bath where he proceeds to contemplate his man parts floating in the tub. Good grief, this is literature...exasperated I leave it go. What am I missing? I try a second attempt and then when I am at my wit's end I buy the Audible book for the work. Third time IS the charm. I listen to the book and read along with it. Finally it comes together. The Audio had two narrators performing the parts. Jim Norton was excellent with all the accents, singing and most of the narration. Marcella Riordan gave just the right amount and feel to the character of Mrs. Bloom. The experience was delightfully entertaining. What the printed word doesn't include is a lot of the bits and parts of conversations and thoughts are songs. Between the chapters, actual recordings of the music of the period are played so the reader gets a feel for the time and place where the story unfolds. Called a modernist novel would seem accurate in describing this work. With the help of the Audible and referring to Spark notes I was able to complete this read.

An Irish epic

I personally believe that like the works of Homer, you can read or listen to this book over and over again but will still only grasp the tip of the iceberg of what this story truly means.
I find the metaphors that Joyce uses to describe each situation as enlightening way to setup the mood and emotions.
Great book and a wonderful reading for all to enjoy.
(4 stars for performance because the music in between chapters got a little old after the 10th)

Fantastic reading of Ulysses

What an excellent reading of Joyce's classic text. The variety and accuracy of Dublin accents is none other than brilliant; the final monologue by Molly simply stunning.

epi

epic, hard to read without some.kind of online guide but an epic nonetheless. more words

so hard to follow

listening to this book is lile being in the mind of a meth addict - this story is just everywhere and is bext to impossible to follow.