Ulysses on the Liffey (Barnes & Noble Rediscovers Series)

by Richard Ellmann

Book Overview

A new and illuminating critique of the narrative, ethical and aesthetic strands in Joyce's masterpiece, Ulysses. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• ISBN: 1435108493
• ISBN13: 9781435108493
• Release Date: January 2009
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Up close and personal

Certainly ULYSSES ON THE LIFFEY is a very close scrutiny of some of the lesser discussed aspects of Joyce's mammoth comic book. You can always depend on Richard Ellmann to give us the way-beneath-the-surface innuendoes and meanings of Joyce's writings. But because Ellmann is also so close to the life of the writer (he'd written the best biography of James Joyce) he, quite rightfully I believe, draws references from Joyce's experiences that went into the thinking and writing of ULYSSES. By no means is this intended to be an introduction to ULYSSES. This is meant for the serious student of arguably Ireland's greatest 20th century writer, and the 20th century's most influential novel.

Superb, for those familiar with "Ulysses"

"Ulysses on the Liffey" is not the first book on "Ulysses" I'd reach for. That would be "'Ulysses' Annotated." But, Ellmann's views on Joyce's masterpiece are extremely valuable to those who've read Joyce, and more than once. Like Lang in his "Music of Western Civilization," Ellmann says much in little space. I'd say a top 10 book on "Ulysses," all told.