“Every life is in many days, day after day. We walk through ourselves, meeting robbers, ghosts, giants, old men, young men, wives, widows, brothers-in-love, but always meeting ourselves.” 16 June 1904. Leopold Bloom wanders the streets and places of Dublin. Around him, everything becomes a dream, a menace, an opportunity, a disappointment, a wrath. His mind filled with thoughts of Molly Bloom, his own (very different) Penelope. His path crosses with the ‘’heroes’’ of his own Irish Odyssey. Is he willing to escape the Lestrygonians and the Wandering Rocks? The Sirens and the Cyclops? The traps of Aeolus? The seductive hallucinations of Circe? The playful innocence of Nausicaa? “History, Stephen said, is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.” In the course of one day, from Sandycove to Howth Head, Leopold traces Dublin Bay, at the side of the demons in his head. In a novel that has become a symbol, a shrine of Modernism and the finest Experimental example, Joyce gives us the city adventures of a troubled soul, the interactions of the bourgeois man and the bohemian student. The outsider within the boundaries of a metropolis. The sights, the smells, the sounds of Dublin as Bloom walks on and on, the body of a man in close proximity and struggle within the body of the city that nurtures and swallows its residents. The monologues of desperation and dissolution (or are his illusions fed even more?) give food for the legends that now accompany Bloom’s wanderings. Every building, every local spot becomes a story within the story, a station and a port for Leopold’s withered ship. An Odyssey of Dublin from its pubs and houses to its hospitals and graveyards with rhapsodies of sex, fellowship, trust and betrayal in an era that changes. Banned in the USA and other countries on the grounds of obscenity, Ulysses remains a mystery even today. In our modern era when scenes are reenacted on Bloomsday, James Joyce masterpiece still troubles, hypnotizes and fascinates us. “Shakespeare is the happy hunting ground of all minds that have lost their balance.”

I have a well read old paperback version so decided to purchase hardback version, have just read again and brought to life again evoking thoughts, encourage to read

As with many of James Joyce works it seems to attract some negativity which is totally unfounded. It might take a little patience (particularly if you are not used to the style) but it is well worth reading, thought provoking and as the old adage goes "curl up with a cup of tea infront of the fire". Wonderful. I have read this (along with other works of Mr Joyce) more than once and have suggested to family and friends who have also enjoyed, Thoroughly deserved its place in the top 100 books.

...Ulysses is not as hard as they suggest. All you need is a good set of notes, lots of tea, and some stamina (and ideally a friend who's already read it). Even if it takes a few attempts, it is really worth trying 'Ulysses' - the hype says it's the most important novel ever written, and that's true! This really is a beautiful novel that showcases every single emotion on the spectrum - great value too!

Physically not a great binding. This is an average quality hardback with a few illustrations. Maybe the contents will make up for it.