Classics

Belated Bloomsday: A Beginner’s Guide to ULYSSES

Cassandra Neace

Staff Writer

Cassandra Neace is a high school English teacher in Houston. When she's not in the classroom, she reads books and writes about them. She prides herself on her ability to recommend a book for most any occasion. She can be found on Instagram @read_write_make

View All posts by Cassandra Neace

James Joyce’s Ulysses is one of those books that I really, really want to read, but I open it up and then promptly throw it down and start screaming like a little girl because INTIMIDATING. But it shouldn’t be. In honor of Bloomsday, in an attempt to make myself a little less afraid and little more enthusiastic, I spent last Sunday acclimating myself to the world of Ulysses via video.

First, Stephen Fry tells us why he loves Ulysses and provides a handy synopsis.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL_rXp-T4tc[/youtube]

Now, we’ll hear from the author himself. He was recorded reading from the Aeolus episode in 1924.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhW0TrzWGmI[/youtube]

This documentary explores the novel and its author in depth. It’s pretty interesting, too. 

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oDLbjZTh4w[/youtube]

And if you’re really feeling gung-ho, here’s the full-length film from 1967.  It even received an Academy Award nomination for the screenplay. 

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F_zwFhjdW8[/youtube]

If you’re not feeling so gung-ho, then just check out Molly Bloom’s famous soliloquy. 

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2BP_I6kuOw[/youtube]

If you’re more a listener than a watcher, you might check out Frank Delaney’s Re:Joyce Podcast.

Bloomsday, then, is a day when people remember this great work of Joyce, read his novel that takes place in a day, and do something to recreate the world of Leopold and Molly Bloom.

Take a look at how Dubliners celebrate the day:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhilxzboNi0[/youtube]

When Bloomsday rolls around next year, and you’re in Houston, TX, then I recommend following the plan set forth by Jack Highberger at Jack Around. 

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