How to Read Joyce

How to Read Joyce

James Joyce is known most widely as a “difficult” writer, even if he is no longer thought of as a “dirty” one. Yet many readers – and not just in colleges and universities – have discovered his books to be funny, moving, illuminating, and packed with memorable moments. There are some simple ways to overcome the initial intimidation that Joyce’s style can cause. In this book, Derek Attridge shows how even the shortest passage of Joyce’s writing can yield its humour and its insights without the need for immense learning or lengthy training. Moving through all of Joyce’s major books, from the deceptive clarity of Dubliners to the apparent craziness of Finnegans Wake, he demonstrates that they all, in their different ways, are a pleasure to read – even if we have to make some adjustments to our understanding of what “reading” is.

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Derek Attridge – Granta Books