Book as World: James Joyce’s Ulysses

First published in 1976 to critical acclaim, The Book As World guides readers through the labyrinth of Joyce’s prose. French’s provocative thesis is that the “Ulysses” of Joyce’s title refers not to a character in the novel, but to the reader. Therefore, the act of reading the novel is a journey of self-exploration. The varied narrators, with widely differing points of view, styles, and tones, serve as guides for the reader on the internal journey. A new Introduction offers readers an overview of one of the richest works of modern fiction.