Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Original publication date
1966
Publication
Routledge (1996), Edition: 3, 272 pages
Description
Since 1966 readers new to James Joyce have depended upon this essential guide to Ulysses. Harry Blamires helps readers to negotiate their way through this formidable, remarkable novel and gain an understanding of it which, without help, it might have taken several readings to achieve. The New Bloomsday Book is a crystal clear, page-by-page, line-by-line running commentary on the plot of Ulysses which illuminates symbolic themes and structures along the way. It is a highly accessible, indispensible guide for anyone reading Joyce's masterpiece for the first time. To ensure that Blamires' classic work will remain useful to new readers, this third edition contains the page numbering and references to three commonly read editions of Ulysses: the Oxford University Press 'World Classics' (1993), the Penguin 'Twentieth-Century Classics' (1992), and the Gabler 'Corrected Text' (1986) editions.… (more)
Subjects
Original language
English
Language
ISBN
0415138582 / 9780415138581
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User reviews
LibraryThing member KrisR
After just completing my first reading of Ulysses, I am joining my voice to the GR chorus of appreciation for Blamires's guide. MJ referred to it as indispensable in his review, and I concur with his assessment.
Blamires provides short, beautifully written overviews of each episode, but these
I have described Blamires's The New Bloomsday Book as serving a function similar to that of synopses of operas in playbills. He provides a sense of the action and some important elements to consider when reading Ulysses, but he does so in such a way that readers remain free to respond to Ulysses on their own terms. It's a very difficult balancing act, and one that he executes perfectly.
Blamires provides short, beautifully written overviews of each episode, but these
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overviews are not simply summaries (although his summaries are indispensable in certain passages and episodes that otherwise could be difficult to follow). Instead, Blamires also discusses some approaches to interpreting Ulysses, indicating themes and motifs that reappear throughout the novel, providing some gentle guidance for the reader to begin appreciating the intricate connections that Joyce weaves throughout the novel.I have described Blamires's The New Bloomsday Book as serving a function similar to that of synopses of operas in playbills. He provides a sense of the action and some important elements to consider when reading Ulysses, but he does so in such a way that readers remain free to respond to Ulysses on their own terms. It's a very difficult balancing act, and one that he executes perfectly.
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LibraryThing member colligan
Blamires' "The New Bloomsday Book" is an incredible scholarly achievement. Line by line he gives us all the background needed to understand the context and direction of Ulysses. With detailed references he also provides all the information necessary to delve even deeper into Ulysses. Blamires' work
A question that did come to mind in reading Blamires was what is the distinction (if any) between providing information/context on a work and interpreting a work. Blamires does both.
In all honesty, I lack the expertise, intellect, and/or credentials to credibly challenge Blamires' interpretations of Ulysses. Yet, I do begin to chafe when Blamires begins to "interpret" and provide the "meaning" of sections. One could say, reasonably, that if I don't want interpretation, don’t read a "guide". I accept that charge.
However, that does leave me with another question. What is the validity of "interpreting" works of fiction? And, is a novel meant to be decoded or simply experienced? Is the author simply dressing up for show her/his theories and/or perspectives in the wardrobe of elaborate prose and plotting? Or, could it be that the author actually intends the ambiguity produced in their work as it reflects the ambiguity of life/experience? Do we do a disservice to the author and the work when we provide exegesis? Do we create the illusion of orthodox and heterodox interpretations of a work?
I lean to the position of experiencing the work. But I also realize that my extremely meager formal education in literature probably both supports and requires that position.
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is both accessible to the reader and invaluable for any further study of Ulysses. A question that did come to mind in reading Blamires was what is the distinction (if any) between providing information/context on a work and interpreting a work. Blamires does both.
In all honesty, I lack the expertise, intellect, and/or credentials to credibly challenge Blamires' interpretations of Ulysses. Yet, I do begin to chafe when Blamires begins to "interpret" and provide the "meaning" of sections. One could say, reasonably, that if I don't want interpretation, don’t read a "guide". I accept that charge.
However, that does leave me with another question. What is the validity of "interpreting" works of fiction? And, is a novel meant to be decoded or simply experienced? Is the author simply dressing up for show her/his theories and/or perspectives in the wardrobe of elaborate prose and plotting? Or, could it be that the author actually intends the ambiguity produced in their work as it reflects the ambiguity of life/experience? Do we do a disservice to the author and the work when we provide exegesis? Do we create the illusion of orthodox and heterodox interpretations of a work?
I lean to the position of experiencing the work. But I also realize that my extremely meager formal education in literature probably both supports and requires that position.
Show Less
LibraryThing member BrianDewey
Blamires, Harry. The New Bloomsday Book. Routledge, London, 1996. A play-by-play paraphrase of Joyce's Ulysses. A great companion for that first reading.
LibraryThing member Othemts
An absolute necessity to navigating through the many complex layers of Ulysses. I read Blamires plain language summary and explanation of the symbolism, allusions, and historical references after finishing each episode. It strikes the right balance of helpful literary analysis without too much
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spoon feeding. Show Less
LibraryThing member rizeandshine
Very helpful in deciphering the elusive plot of Ulysses. Even with the help of this book, I couldn't begin to understand all of the references to the Holy Trinity contained in the novel.
LibraryThing member annbury
A stupid book and totally unnecessary to reading Ulysses.
It transpires that Blamires is a priest, which doesn't disqualify him,
except that he seems to find religious reasons for a lot of Joyce's stuff, which is totally silly.
It transpires that Blamires is a priest, which doesn't disqualify him,
except that he seems to find religious reasons for a lot of Joyce's stuff, which is totally silly.
LibraryThing member shaun_booker
Waste of time, even a cursory glance at Ulysses using your own res cogitans will give you the same insights this gives. Additionally it loves telling you things that happen 200 pages later making sure you get no satisfaction discovering anything yourself. This book carries the well worn trope of
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'It's ok for a Jew to insult a black man for any derogitory reason but if Jews are genuinely critisised for doing anything at all, your brushed off with the misnomer anti-semitic. A plus for Blamires is that he doesn't descend into analysing things that aren't there and sticks fairly well to the text, but as I've already noted you will find reading Ulysses yourself will substitute for reading Blamires book. Life is short and you have only a limited amount of books you can read, don't make Ulysees or Blamires book two of them. Show Less