James JoyceUlysses

Librivox recording of Ulysses, by James Joyce.

Still considered one of the most radical works of fiction of the 20th Century, James Joyce's Ulysses ushered in the era of the modern novel. Loosely based on Homer's Odyssey, the narrative follows Leopold Bloom and a number of other characters through an ordinary day, twenty four hours, in Dublin, on June 16, 1904. The text is dense and difficult, but perfectly suited to an oral reading, filled with language tricks, puns and jokes, stream of consciousness, and bawdiness.

NOTE: Because of the nature of this project, there was a bending of usual LibriVox procedures: pub-like background noise was encouraged, as well as creative group readings; and no editing was required, so in places there may be some accidental variation from the original text ... Listener be warned!
(Summary by Hugh McGuire)

Read by Librivox volunteers

For more free audiobooks, or to become a volunteer reader, please visit librivox.org.

This item is part of the collection: LibriVox

Author: James Joyce
Source: Librivox recording of a public-domain text

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: librivoxbooks - - November 13, 2007
Subject: listener be warned

as the warning says: "Because of the nature of this project, there was a bending of usual LibriVox procedures: pub-like background noise was encouraged, as well as creative group readings; and no editing was required, so in places there may be some accidental variation from the original text ... Listener be warned!"

plans are possibly afoot to do a cleaner rendition.

Reviewer: der kitty cat - - November 13, 2007
Subject: Irish Literature

First of all, it is Irish literature.

I don't care how experimental these people think this is, it's very difficult to listen to.

Since Joyce wrote in style that indicated he wanted this read aloud, it sould be much easier to listen to.

This is a total joke and a bit insulting frankly. If you're going to experiment, it's probably best not to mess with the initial intentions of the author.

There is lost of room for improvisation but improvisation should give the audiene the impression that the performers actually know what they are talking about.

Reviewer: mknyc - - August 14, 2007
Subject: Tremendously disappointing

Be warned -- this is not just a matter of background noise, etc., as suggested. A series of readers, a different one every 3-4 minutes is disorienting. Some could seemingly care less -- it may be just a lark to them, but how can you get into the flow of the book, when a sentence is repeated sometimes three or four times until they get it "right"? (or sometimes, they give up). I honor the effort, but its un-listenable.

Reviewer: rita1075 - - June 17, 2007
Subject: A good recording

A hilarious, unique interpretation of one of the masterpieces of English literature!