Ulysses, Volume 1

Episodes 1-3

De: James Joyce

Narrado por: Jim Norton

Ulysses is regarded by many as the single most important novel of the 20th century. It tells the story of one day in Dublin, 16 June 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.

This is the first volume of James Joyce's Ulysses. To hear the entire epic day in the lives of Stephen Dedalus and Leopold Bloom, don't forget to listen to Volume 2 and Volume 3.(P)2004 NAXOS AudioBooks Ltd.

Reseñas de la Crítica

• 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)

Good performance...

So... what to say about Ulysses that hasn't been said. It's a tough piece to work through although this first volume is not so hard to follow. The performance is engaging and makes it less of a slog.

breath of fresh air

I was always nervous about trying to read Ulysses. Would I understand it? Could I wade through it? And then someone said to me "you know, it's a very funny book, which is really wonderful when read out loud." So I thought I'd give it a try. And it is wonderful - much better than I had expected. Jim Norton does an incredible job with the accents and the snatches of song and the humor. I admit to not understanding a certain amount of it, but I don't care. It's like listening to music - the language is so beautiful and Joyce has so much fun with sounds, I hardly care what it's about. I just love it.

Easier than reading it

Everyone knows that Ulysses is supposed to be impossible to read, it is, I've tried! Here is the answer. This version is beautifully narrated, almost acted, as Jim Norton takes on many different voices. The chatacters really come to life. The story is still difficult to follow but it is easy to appreciate the writing and just listen. In some ways it is like listening to good music, you can just lie back and appreciate it without needing to follow the story. I recommend it.

An hour and 54 minutes

This review is just to point out that the listed length of this recording is an hour and 54 minutes, which I don't believe. If it is accurate, I certainly won't spend the money. But it it's a typo,please fix it.

Fascinating book, when read by great narrators

A fascinating, enigmatic novel, filled with elaborate narrative and extended verbal jests to keep you on your toes. Great narration by both readers. Molly Bloom?s monologue is especially well read by Marcella Riordan. The book is also somewhat blasphemous and quite lewd, although covered over by academic terms and many words that you have to look up in a dictionary. I immersed myself in the reading the first time through, then listened to Professor Heffernan?s 24 half-hour lectures (from The Teaching Company), then listened again with the text in front of me. I found the book very amusing, when read to me, and worth the time and effort. Bravo again to the narrators. Up, U.P., Up!

Living, breathing expressionism

Ulysses by James Joyce is universally acknowledged as a difficult read on paper. There's no doubt it's never going to be an easy book but when Jim Norton speaks, he brings such a wide range of characters to life it's like being in Dublin. You may not understand why they're saying what they're saying but at least you can hear the different speakers. Mr Norton has incredible diction, rhythm and control. He immerses the listener into the world of Joyce. I commend Mr Norton for a fantastic performance. He's given me an entree into a detailed impressionistic portrait of a particular time, a city and its citizens. I've listened to part one twice already and can only marvel that Jim Norton has been able to delineate the characters so clearly. Wait till you hear part two and thank goodness Jim's there for us as Joyce just keeps on piling it on!

Telemachus

Outstanding lyrical and dramatic presentation of the first section of Ulysses. Jim Norton properly loses himself as narrator in the remarkable peripatetic flow through the various "realities". My understanding of and affection for the characters, especially Stephen Dedalus and Buck Mulligan, grew while listening to this reading. And, I was treated to a few laugh out loud moments.

great reading

This is one of the best readings I've heard of any book. Characters sound like characters, not caricatures. To the listener that asked about the length - yes it's 1h54m. It's backwards in terms of "getting what you pay for" but makes sense in terms of the structure of the novel. Vol. 1 is is Stephen Dedalus section, Vol. 2 (the bulk of the novel) is the Leopold Bloom Section, and Vol. 3 is the Molly Bloom section. Think of it as 3 credits ($75) for one of the greatest novels in the English language--unabridged.

easy button for this difficult read

If you've ever tried to read Ulysses, you realize how difficult it is to get through.
Once I got the audiobook, I found the work far more enjoyable.
Not having to struggle through it, I got far more out of the story.
It unlocks the beauty of the work. It is the easy button for this difficult read.

AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

Ulysses Complete

This is fantastic. Joyce has a certain lyricism that doesnt come out as well when simply reading. I think Ulysses needs to be read and heard. This collection in three volumes is something over twenty-four hours of audio (total for all three unabridged volumes). I suggest turning it up loud and trying to find the answer: why didnt he pray?