Frank Delaney's Re: Joyce
Re: Joyce! On the international literary feast day of Bloomsday 2010, we launched a podcast to commemorate James Joyce's mighty novel, "Ulysses", the action of which took place in 18 hours of June 16, 1904. Every week you'll find a five-minute mini-essay from me designed to take you through the novel that's on every list of the greatest books ever written. And as Ulysses runs to some 375,000 words, and I mean to go through it sentence by sentence if I have to, in order to convey the full brilliance of this novel - and the enjoyment to be had from it - I'll be podcasting for some time to come! It's such an absorbing book, it's got diamond mines of references, it's so compassionate, so tender, so moving, so funny - and most of us never know that, because most of us have long been daunted by it. No need to be afraid any more - that is, if you make a habit of listening to these podcasts.

A key is found, a door opened, breakfast is served, and various profanities are narrowly avoided, for once.

Direct download: re_Joyce_29_James_Street.mp3
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We sit down to a fortified breakfast, and meet Haines and his dream. Also: more blasphemy.

Direct download: re_Joyce_28_The_Black_Panther_Returns.mp3
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Stephen sees ceremony and symbolism in a shaving bowl.

Direct download: re_Joyce_27_Whos_Serving_Whom.mp3
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Stephen is called to breakfast by Buck, and hit up for a loan at the same time. All is not forgiven.

Direct download: re_Joyce_26_-_The_Buck_is_Back.mp3
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We translate Stephen's prayers for the dying from the Latin, and return immediately to both Homer and Shakespeare.

Direct download: re_Joyce25_Prayers-for-the-Dying.mp3
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In his second bonus podcast, Frank discusses Joyce's formation on the Island of Saints and Scholars.

Direct download: re_joyce_24a-_2nd_Bonus_Edition-__Formation.mp3
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Stephen's mother is placed in the structure of the cosmos.

Direct download: re_Joyce_24_-_Dont_Be_Afraid.mp3
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Stephen, still brooding, summons memories of his mother's life, and we learn something of pantomime.

Direct download: re_Joyce_23_-_Thanks_for_the_Memory.mp3
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Stephen remembers, poetically and tragically, his mother's deathbed.

Direct download: re_Joyce_22_-_Of_Beads__Birdcages.mp3
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As Stephen stands alone on the tower, we muse upon the painterly language of the seascape.

Direct download: re_Joyce_21_-_Watch_This_Cloud.mp3
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Mulligan, descending the stairs, trivializes his own insults - and musters considerable literary resources to do so.

Direct download: re_Joyce_20_-_Fergus_and_Friends.mp3
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Stephen absorbs Mulligan's insults and, standing upon the tower by the sea, once again recalls his Shakespearean precedent.

Direct download: re_Joyce_19_-_Bacon_and_Hamlet.mp3
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Mulligan boldly defends himself against Stephen's charge, and dissects death  - and Stephen himself - in the process.

Direct download: RE_Joyce_18_-_Whos_the_Impossible_Person_.mp3
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We touch on one of the most important themes of Ulysses, and perhaps in all of writing.

Direct download: re_Joyce_17_-_Ideas_and_Sensations.mp3
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A few thoughts on the Celtic spirit, and on what, exactly, can be seen from Martello tower.

Direct download: re_Joyce_16_-_Now_You_See_It_Now_You_Dont.mp3
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Direct download: re_Joyce_15_-_The_Worst_of_Mulligan.mp3
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We dig through some more insults, and ponder the names of characters who don't, in fact, appear in the novel.

Direct download: re_Joyce_14_-_Whats_in_a_Name.mp3
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A single word produces lessons on the Greek language, politics, and cultural criticism.

Direct download: re_Joyce_13_-_Is_it_all_Greek_to_you.mp3
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Stepping away from the narrative for a moment, Frank gives us a look at Joyce's education, his family, and his conflicted relationship with the Catholic church.

Direct download: re_Joyce_12a_-_Bakers_Dozen_-_James_Joyces_Origins.mp3
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Stephen and Mulligan fence - or, alternately, joust.

Direct download: re_Joyce_12_-_The_Schmoozing_Buck.mp3
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The looking glass evokes both Shakespeare's Caliban and Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray

Direct download: re_Joyce_11_-_A_Cracked_Looking-Glass.mp3
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As the insults mount, Stephen faces his own reflection.

Direct download: re_Joyce_10_-_Is_Stephen_Insane.mp3
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 We find meaning - and a Shakespearean precedent - in Stephen's black clothing.

Direct download: re_Joyce_9_-_James_Joyces_Hamlet.mp3
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Getting past Mulligan's accusations of mummery, we enter Stephen's thoughts and encounter his dead mother.

Direct download: re_Joyce_8_-_The_Voice_inside_Stephen.mp3
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Direct download: re_Joyce_7_-_Mulligans_Gigantic_Insult.mp3
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Frank describes the real life figure behind the character Haines.
Direct download: re-Joyce_6_-_A_Black_Panther_and_a_Gun.mp3
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In this next installment we hear from Stephen Dedalus.​
Direct download: re-Joyce_5_-_The_Voice_of_Stephen.mp3
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Jame's Joyce's blasphemy still has power today.  Listen to Frank Delaney investigate the next section of Ulysses.

Direct download: re-Joyce_4-_A_Bit_of_Blasphemy.mp3
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Episode Three in which we learn more about Stephen Dedalus including the origins of his name.
Direct download: re_joyce_3_June_30_2010.mp3
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