It's a strange project, aiming to show Ireland to itself by writing a book that is too challenging for most Irish (or anyone) to read. Did Joyce really think of his potential audience as the common people? Who was he really trying to reach? (These are genuine, not rhetorical, questions.)
I don't know if he said much about it. Dubliners and Portrait are obviously aimed at a "common reader" audience. I think there is also a sort of web of influence through which great works come to influence the culture. Overall I think I see all of this as more important as a motivation than a goal for Joyce.
When visiting Northern Ireland, at a small party there was an impromptu discussion of Joyce and Yeats. These regular Irish folk all thought Yeats wanted to be English, while they all saw Joyce a literary hero, and proudly Irish.
She had more time. Also very sad, that. KM's stories seem close to Dubliners though that may be the genre - I rarely read short stories. So much to read between the lines, and so poignant, both.
Brilliant! Well done Henry and beautifully written and to answer the Question you ask, the answer in your words is shifty,many sided and the truth is he loved Ireland but carefully avoided the nets
I agree with your point about Ulysses being about love - tough look for Leo though, what with being cuckolded and all. What are your thoughts on how this applies?
Also, what a fantastic first sentence. If it weren't so x-rated, I'd teach it to my students during my "how to write a hook" lesson.
You take a very good shot at describing the hugeness of Ulysses, the breath-taking, jaw-dropping, mind-invading, obsession-forming magnificence of it. Dubliners is marvelous, but there’s nothing like Ulysses in all the world. It has been my close friend for thirty years.
Isn't there something to be said for the view that the best of Joyce is the (unJoyceian?) The Dead, which hasn't any defecation or menstruation in it, isn't poly-anything and in which any heroes or heroines are characters made out of words not words themselves? By comparison, hasn't Joyce in Ulysses already taken the turning to Finnegan's Wake, which you have to be a very uncommon reader to enjoy?
Then you perhaps take a highly subjective view of literary merit? (I don’t entirely disagree btw but I think the pleasures of Joyce are of a different type than you are indicating your preferences to be.)
It's a strange project, aiming to show Ireland to itself by writing a book that is too challenging for most Irish (or anyone) to read. Did Joyce really think of his potential audience as the common people? Who was he really trying to reach? (These are genuine, not rhetorical, questions.)
I don't know if he said much about it. Dubliners and Portrait are obviously aimed at a "common reader" audience. I think there is also a sort of web of influence through which great works come to influence the culture. Overall I think I see all of this as more important as a motivation than a goal for Joyce.
His novels bely the fact that they were written over long periods of time- they seem like monologues dropped on paper at the spur of a moment.
When visiting Northern Ireland, at a small party there was an impromptu discussion of Joyce and Yeats. These regular Irish folk all thought Yeats wanted to be English, while they all saw Joyce a literary hero, and proudly Irish.
That makes sense to me; there's always more to find in Ulysses. I find it sad that Woolf and Mansfield couldn't get over the shock.
Well I think Woolf got over it—didn’t have room for that here might write about it elsewhere
She had more time. Also very sad, that. KM's stories seem close to Dubliners though that may be the genre - I rarely read short stories. So much to read between the lines, and so poignant, both.
Brilliant! Well done Henry and beautifully written and to answer the Question you ask, the answer in your words is shifty,many sided and the truth is he loved Ireland but carefully avoided the nets
Glad you liked it!
I think James Joyce had that outside inside cultural thing going on. Spending so much time outside
Thank you for sharing this remarkable essay Henry.
Glad you liked it :)
I agree with your point about Ulysses being about love - tough look for Leo though, what with being cuckolded and all. What are your thoughts on how this applies?
Also, what a fantastic first sentence. If it weren't so x-rated, I'd teach it to my students during my "how to write a hook" lesson.
Well he still loved Molly I think — and he seems to know… how old are the students? Surely it’s not that bad…
Juniors and seniors in high school...I suppose I could get away with it!
Yeah… surely they know!! Francis Bacon is good for hooks also
You take a very good shot at describing the hugeness of Ulysses, the breath-taking, jaw-dropping, mind-invading, obsession-forming magnificence of it. Dubliners is marvelous, but there’s nothing like Ulysses in all the world. It has been my close friend for thirty years.
Fascinating. Thanks for reposting. I’ll start with Portrait. 🍻
Very good choice
This was a fun read Henry, I had no idea Joyce was so cool. You’ve sold me on getting a copy of Ulysses.
Have you considered adding affiliate links to purchase books discussed in a post? It’d add a small amount of revenue kickback from interested readers.
Glad to hear it! I used to but the rules are irritating for email so I don’t bother
Isn't there something to be said for the view that the best of Joyce is the (unJoyceian?) The Dead, which hasn't any defecation or menstruation in it, isn't poly-anything and in which any heroes or heroines are characters made out of words not words themselves? By comparison, hasn't Joyce in Ulysses already taken the turning to Finnegan's Wake, which you have to be a very uncommon reader to enjoy?
Sure, but I don't know that we can deny the great power of Ulysses, even if we don't like it as much as his other writing.
But if it hasn't the power to make you like it?
Then you perhaps take a highly subjective view of literary merit? (I don’t entirely disagree btw but I think the pleasures of Joyce are of a different type than you are indicating your preferences to be.)