The Guide to James Joyce's Ulysses

In The Guide to James Joyce's Ulysses, Patrick Hastings provides comprehensive support to readers and listeners of Joyce's magnum opus by illuminating crucial details and reveling in the mischievous genius of this unparalleled novel. Written in a voice that offers encouragement and good humor, this guidebook maintains a closeness to the original text and supports the first-time reader or listener of Ulysses with the information needed to successfully finish and appreciate the novel. Deftly weaving together spirited plot summaries, helpful interpretive analyses, scholarly criticism, and explanations of historical and biographical context, Hastings makes Joyce's famously intimidating novel more accessible and enjoyable than ever before. He unpacks each chapter of Ulysses with episode guides, which offer pointed and readable explanations of what occurs in the text. He also deals adroitly with many of the puzzles Joyce hoped would "keep the professors busy for centuries."

Full of practical resources, this is an invaluable first resource about a work of art that celebrates the strength of spirit required to endure the trials of everyday existence. The Guide to James Joyce's Ulysses is perfect for anyone undertaking a listening or reading of Joyce's novel, whether as a student, a member of a reading group, or a lover of literature finally crossing this novel off the bucket list.

©2022 Patrick Hastings (P)2023 Tantor

This guide…

Along with Jim Norton, audio version made getting through Ulysses (finally!), Success and a pleasure. I recommend listening to a chapter in Ulysses, followed by a chapter in this book.

Enlightening

I’ve studied Ulysses and read several helpful guides to this great but difficult work of literature. Joyce deliberately made its meaning obscure, and scholars still debate it rather intensely. I found Hastings interpretation to be among the most convincing and satisfying.

Now I do not have to read the book......

Now I do not need to read the book. Book is way to complicated for me.