"Joyce fans should thank their lucky stars." –The New York Times
Arguably the most influential writer of the twentieth century, James Joyce continues to inspire writers, readers, and thinkers today. Now Edna O’Brien, herself one of Ireland’s great writers, approaches the master as only a fellow countryman can. From Joyce’s adolescence through his travels abroad to the publication of Ulysses-the scandalous masterpiece that was initially banned in the U nited States but later hailed as one of the most brilliant novels of the twentieth century-O’Brien traces the arc of Joyce’s remarkable life. Her biography is a tribute, at once affectionate and stern, from a contemporary writer to one of our most significant literary ancestors.
About James Joyce
One of Ireland’s best current novelists provides a thumbnail sketch of Ireland’s greatest writer. A passionate and sensuous portrait, James Joyce is a return to the land of politics, history, saints, and scholars that shaped the creator of the twentieth century’s groundbreaking novel Ulysses. O’Brien traces Joyce’s early days as a rambunctious young Jesuit student; his falling in love with a tall, red-haired Galway girl named Nora Barnacle on Bloomsday; and his exile to Trieste where he found success, love, and ultimately, despair. Joyce’s raucous life as well as his thoughtful commentary on his major writings are presented succinctly and masterfully for any Joyce lover to enjoy. O’Brien captures with simplicity the brilliance and complexity of this great master.
“It is swift, moving and brimming with the author’s enthusiasms and her well-earned affection for a difficult colleague.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review
About Edna O’Brien
Edna O’Brien is the internationally acclaimed author of more than 20 books including Down by the River, The Country Girls, and A Fanatic Heart. She is the recipient of many awards, including the Irish PEN Lifetime Achievement Award, the American National Arts Gold… More about Edna O’Brien
About Edna O’Brien
Edna O’Brien is the internationally acclaimed author of more than 20 books including Down by the River, The Country Girls, and A Fanatic Heart. She is the recipient of many awards, including the Irish PEN Lifetime Achievement Award, the American National Arts Gold… More about Edna O’Brien
