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Ulysses

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Ulysses

By: James Joyce
Narrated by: Jim Norton
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About this listen

 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.

(P)2004 NAXOS AudioBooks Ltd. Classics Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Fiction Funny Suspenseful

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)
All stars
Most relevant
This is audio books at their absolute best. I'm only a quarter of the way through but this is completely captivating. The range of voices Jim Riordan can produce is amazing: it brings the characters to life and helps the listener keep track of what is obviously a difficult 'plot'. He also brings a range of tone to the characters, distinguishing speech and thoughts very helpfully. Perhaps not the best bed-time listening - a fatal combination of mellifluous accents and aimless ramblings that has me dozing off in minutes - but there the fault is entirely my own.

Ulysses brought to life

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What did you like most about Ulysses?

I listened and read on Kindle at the same time. If It was under my own steam I would never have made it. The combination worked well for me and is highly recommended.
This is an important book and to gain access to it to observe the way Joyce turns words over in his hands and plays with the form of language is awesome.
I can see me repeating this over the years.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Ulysses?

There were some dull and inaccessible episodes in the middle (memorable for the wrong reasons) but overall the pictures that Joyce paints of life in Dublin are what stand out. The various interactions as the day goes on are deep, comedic and give a good insight to the life of the time.

What about Jim Norton’s performance did you like?

What a fantastic performance. If you need a sense of his artistry read a section out aloud to someone and then play Norton's performance of the same passage. What skill!
The numerous accents and various pace of reading are just brilliant.
I also loved Marcella Riordan's contribution at the end of the book; very philosophical, sad and sensual at the same time.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No Far too long for one sitting

Any additional comments?

This has to be the best way to access this classic. Highly recommended

I have done it; with a little help

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Once I understood that I would never understand what the story or plot is about I loved it. I went to return it a couple of times but persevered and I'm glad I did. Beautifully crafted...

Story? What story? Outstanding...

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Sadly, I've given up listening to this book after a bit more than an hour.

I'm used to listen while commuting (train, tram, metro, bus, you name it) and therefore, my concentration isn't always up to par. Now, in any other book I've listened to, this isn't much of a problem. You can skip a minute or two and still fall on you feet as soon as you're "out time" is over. it has worked very well so far, be it with novels or even 'serious' historical books.

Not so with Ulysses! When something like this happens with this book, you come back and the characters seem to be talking utter nonsense! Is this a new chapter? Did you miss a change in subject?

I'll *read* the book...

(By the way, my rating doesn't reflect any judgement in the quality of the audio-book itself.)

(To me) this is not a book to be listened to

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A weird but vivid description of one day that has made me think about my own individual days. One of the best readings of a book I've listened to. Also I'm pretty sure that every question ever asked on University Challenge about anything pre 1904 is answered in Ulysses. It's all here!

Ulysses

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