James Joyce

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book.

Listen to a sample

What to expect

Edna O'Brien depicts James Joyce as a man hammered by Church, State and family, yet from such adversities he wrote works 'to bestir the hearts of men and angels'. The journey begins with Joyce the arrogant youth, his lofty courtship of Nora Barnacle, their hectic sexuality, children, wanderings, debt and profligacy, and Joyce's obsession with the city of Dublin, which he would re-render through his words. Nor does Edna O'Brien spare us the anger and isolation of Joyce's later years, when he felt that the world had turned its back on him, and she asks how could it be otherwise for a man who knew that conflict is the source of all creation.

'A delight from start to finish . . . achieves the near impossibility of giving a thoroughly fresh view of Joyce' Sunday Times

'As skilful, stylish and pacy as one would expect from so adept a novelist' Sunday Telegraph

'Accessible and passionate, it is a book which should bring Joyce in all his glory and agony to a new and very wide audience' Irish Independent

Critics Review

  • A delight from start to finish . . . achieves the near impossibility of giving a thoroughly fresh view of Joyce

    SUNDAY TIMES
  • As skilful, stylish and pacy as one would expect from so adept a novelist

    SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
  • Accessible and passionate, it is a book which should bring Joyce in all his glory and agony to a new and very wide audience

    IRISH INDEPENDENT
  • She has really got under the skin of Joyce

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to get tailored content recommendations, product updates and info on new releases. Your data is your own: we commit to protect your data and respect your privacy.