Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast North London Ulysses

Bloom, on Stephen's unknowing trail, is in Nighttown. Let's take a peek at the first 20 pages.Penguin Classic: 561

Gabler: 350

Project Guttenberg: The Mabott street entrance of nighttown

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Stephen, boozed up, heads for the bawdyhouse. Bloom, queasy on a sip of beer and two sips of wine, follows in concerned-father mode. Nighttown here we come.

Penguin Classic: 561

Gabler: 350

Project Guttenberg: The Mabott street entrance of nighttown

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

A star is born, language is brought up to date (for better or worse) and we all head to the pub. Russell concludes the analysis of Oxen of the Sun episode.

Penguin Classic: 540

Gabler: 337

Project Guttenberg: What is the age of the soul of man?

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Russell concludes the reading of Oxen of the Sun. All 21 pages as read in the pub.

Penguin Classic: 540

Gabler: 337

Project Guttenberg: What is the age of the soul of man?

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Oxen of the Sun is without doubt one of the most challenging in Ulysses and the passage in it that begins on page 322 (Gabler) 'The tenebrosity of the interior..' is one of the densest in the chapter. Let's see if we can shed some light.

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Birth of baby Purefoy but not yet baby Stephen...

Penguin Classic: 525

Gabler: 328

Project Guttenberg: Our worthy acquaintance

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

We read 15 fascinating pages as the boys discuss pregnancies stifled by contraception, mal-births and one new born bouncing boy.

Penguin Classic: 525

Gabler: 328

Project Guttenberg: Our worthy acquaintance

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Russell does his best with this challenging but intriguing passage. We have cows, we have bulls, we have thunder as well as a cornucopia of long unintelligible words. But above all, we have Bloom, reaching out to Stephen - and that's what matters.

Penguin Classic: 512

Gabler: 321

Project Guttenberg: To be short this passage

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

What a week! Bloom and Stephen actually engage in conversation. Not actual dialogue on a page but hey, this is Joyce. You've waited till 10.30 at night, you can wait another hour or so for that. Meantime, we have interaction which is pretty exciting.

Penguin Classic: 512

Gabler: 321

Project Guttenberg: To be short this passage

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Brave or foolish? The sun gods shall determine. Russell dives in and gives his thoughts on the early part of Oxen.

Penguin Classic: 499

Gabler: 314

Project Guttenberg: Deshil Holles Eamus

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Oxen of the Sun; some have been know to wince at its mere mention. Not so at North London Ulysses. We finally have Stephen and Bloom in the same room so not an opportunity to miss. Russell dons his best Anglo-Saxon garb, ups his beaver and reads the first 10 pages or so.

Penguin Classic: 499

Gabler: 314

Project Guttenberg: Deshil Holles Eamus

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

This phrase, Hamlet ou Le Distrait appears early on in the Scylla episode, when Richard Best seems to imply that a so titled French production of, or based on Hamlet, has been held in a provincial town. Stephane Mallarme the French poet, gets mentioned and it's all slightly confusing, not to say distracting. Russell admits that he's often glossed over it, hoping it won't 'distract' from a general understanding of the episode. But now it's time to take a closer look.

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

This is the analysis of the second part of Nausicaa. Bloom's erotic bubble may have burst as he notices Gerty's imperfection. Gerty's romantic bubble may have burst if she (and she surely must) realizes the sleazy stuff Bloom has been up to. Or do we need to recalibrate them both? Did any of it even happen? And where, as perfumed air wafts over to turn fantasy to reality, does Bloom and that little bat, flying hither and thither, go from here?In this video, at the end, Russell ponders whether Bloom's mother is protestant or catholic. It was made in 2025, since when Russell is pretty certain she is protestant.

Penguin Classic: 479

Gabler: 301

Project Guttenberg: Mr. Bloom watched her

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Russell reads the second half of the Nausicaa episode and can we all just calm down a little. Please! We've had our excitement but now its time to come down a little from those blasphemous and even erotic heights. For what goes up, must come down. The fireworks lie there, a little limp, a little forlorn and Bloom will need to reflect on his actions and consider how it all reflects upon him. That little bat may not tell but it saw and it will consider where all this leaves us.

Penguin Classic: 479

Gabler: 301

Project Guttenberg: Mr. Bloom watched her

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

The sun is setting on Sandymount Strand and as twilight heralds the lighting of streetlamps, little bats fly, and fireworks as well as other things explode. Joyce described this episode in terms of tumescence and de-tumescence. This first half is the tumescence. Do join me as we watch things go up.

Penguin Classic: 449

Gabler: 284

Project Guttenberg: The summer evening had begun

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

If you've been waiting to get to the dirty part that got the book banned, you've found it. The twilight scene on the beach was the final straw for the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice which successfully petitioned for the book to be banned in the USA. Britain quickly followed suit. It seems to be for obscenity rather than blasphemy which is equally damming if not perhaps, quite as obvious. Day moves to night, girls become women and maybe, just maybe, the book finds a feminine voice after so much testosterone. Russell does his best to combine Mills and Boon with Playboy's Forum (or was it Penthouse? - such a blur).

Penguin Classic: 449

Gabler: 284

Project Guttenberg: The summer evening had begun

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Lunita Laredo, Molly Bloom's mother, is little known among readers and even relatively ignored by commentators. Merely a footnote. But not at North London Ulysses. Here we take a good look at Lunita and discover that she may be a lot more significant than expected. Is she the most underestimated character in Ulysses??!!

Please be aware that this comments on events close to the end of the book. Personally, I don't feel so precious about that but letting you know in case you do.

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Here Russell analyses the final and explosive third of the Cyclops episode. Racism, nationalism, fiery chariots and flying biscuit tins. It's all here and washed down with lashings of Guinness's porter. And through the madness, Bloom tries to make a case for love, which the citizen takes as symptomatic that the likes of Bloom, who has temporarily left the scene, whom have been allowed into the country, are not proper men, let alone proper Irishmen. We sense the dark shadow of suggestion that certain races are stronger, more manly and superior to others.

Penguin Classic: 426

Gabler: 269

Project Guttenberg: Hanging over the bloody paper

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

The final part of the Cyclops episode is a personal favourite part of the book and I doubt I'm alone in this. Whether it's Bloom's stress of Molly's adultery or his exasperation at the side swipes (and front swipes) at his Jewishness and his perceived lack of manhood, that he has faced all day and perhaps all of his life, the levee finally breaks. Accompanied in equal measure by hilarious and poignant parody, we read to the end of the episode.

Penguin Classic: 426

Gabler: 269

Project Guttenberg: Hanging over the bloody paper

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

The citizen is getting into his stride now, albeit remaining sedentary on his bar stool. He rampages against the British and lauds the Irish in equal measure. As suits his fictional link to Michael Cusack, he is particularly anxious to support the testosterone inducing goodness of traditional manly Irish sport, the more violent the better, and naturally, also the Irish language, though he does not excel in the latter as much as he insinuates. The racing results are in which does not improve the citizen's mood and his pro-Irish exclamations begin to adopt a whiff of a superior race. A whiff that shall be fully explored next time as the episode crescendos.

Penguin Classic: 402

Gabler: 255

Project Guttenberg: So the citizen begins talking

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

This is the middle third of the Cyclops episode. The citizen has used the reference to Joe Brady's erection to segue into all things Irish nationalist and we ended last time with the Parodist narrator spoofing on what may have been Robert Emmet's execution. Now the citizen, increasingly drunk, has a full head of steam, and drawing on his inner Michael Cusack, extolls all things Irish and lambasts all things British. And Bloom, increasingly bold (perhaps it's the cigar fumes), takes him on, which really triggers the citizen who, perhaps drawing on his inner Arthur Griffith, becomes increasingly racist and homophobic. Exciting stuff!

Penguin Classic: 402

Gabler: 255

Project Guttenberg: So then the citizen begins talking about

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

This is a really fun episode but with some very serious undertones, that as it progresses, spill into overtones. We meet the citizen, holed up in the pub, an Irish hero, waiting for what the sky would drop by way of drink. He does not wait in vain as punters queue up to buy him pints - 'wine of the country'. He holds court and spouts forth to his audience. He is assumed to be based on Michael Cusack, an Irish hero, then and to this day, and indeed he resembles him in certain characteristics, especially his pugnaciousness. But not entirely though, for his increasingly racist views, where to give benefit of the doubt, blame might need to be apportioned. Anyway, in walks Bloom...This time we'll look at the first third of an episode which gathers pace and an increasingly sinister aspect as it evolves.

Penguin Classic: 376

Gabler: 240

Project Guttenberg: I was just passing the time of day

Here is a link to the Birth of St Patrick poem referenced.

The Birth Of Saint Patrick by Samuel Lover

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Here we begin the Cyclops episode and this time Russell will read about one third of the chapter. As per usual, his accent is diabolical. It's such an interesting episode in which the style changes yet again. We now have two narrators, both unnamed, perhaps reflecting Noman, the pseudonym Odysseus selects in The Odyssey. We meet the first as the episode begins, and immediately observe him to be both narrator and participant in the proceedings, an early evening drinking session in Barney Kiernan's pub in north central Dublin. The second parodies the proceedings so we'll call him the parodist and he interjects throughout to lampoon events as they occur. We meet another unnamed person, known only as the citizen, one of the most memorable and controversial characters in the novel. A strident bombastic and racist nationalist into whose purview, walks Bloom. Penguin Classic: 376

Gabler: 240

Project Guttenberg: I was just passing the time of day

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Today we I hope not too controversially, examine the touchy subject of nationalist sentimentality. The second half of the episode centres on the song The Croppy Boy and Ben Dollard's trenchant rendition has the pub audience welling up with emotion. Save Bloom, who pays attention to the siren song, but is not swept up onto its rocks. He has other things on his mind. Whether or not you agree that it is sentimental, is besides the point as Mr. Joyce suggests that it may well be and so this is an important aspect of the chapter. Further, it tees up the next episode perfectly, when we embark upon a dark path to which such sentimentality, if one is not careful, might lead.

Penguin Classic: 356

Gabler: 227

Project Guttenberg: Blazes Boylan's smart tan shoes

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Last time our song M'Appari concerned love and loss, which of course resonated so powerfully with poor Bloom, sitting disconsolate in the restaurant area, now that Boylan is on his way to see Molly. So much so, he almost couldn't manage to write to Martha. In the second half of Sirens, with Dollard's rendition of The Croppy Boy, the atmosphere turns political. Joyce displays the nationalist sentimentality for all to hear and see. Teeing up the Cyclops episode beautifully. Penguin Classic: 356

Gabler: 227

Project Guttenberg: Blazes Boylan's smart tan shoes

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Here we analyse the first half of the Sirens episode. Joyce endeavours to write music with words...well, sort of. If you are technically musical, you might get a kick out of that. For the rest of us, we will work with that but not get over concerned. Of greater import is that the feted hour of 4 o'clock occurs in this episode. Bloom is worried. Why is Boylan still in the bar and where is he going when he leaves a few minutes after? The Sirens episode turns on two songs, this time M'Appari, a song of love and loss from the opera Martha. Next time, The Croppy Boy, a song to rouse a nationalist tear in the eye of even the most hardened among us.

Penguin Classic: 328

Gabler: 210

Project Guttenberg: Bronze by gold heard the hoofirons

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

We've a song in our hearts as we move clear of the scary wandering rocks. We just need to breeze past the Sirens, those nice sweet singing mermaids perched on their benign rocks. What could possibly go wrong? Joyce boasted he could do anything with words and some say that in this episode he uses them to write music. Here at North London Ulysses, we'll bear that in mind but won't let it get in the way of a good story. Especially as the clock will chime an adulterous 4 o' clock and with that on his mind, Bloom is not going to be pacified with a nice tune. Here we read the first half of the episode.

Penguin Classic: 328

Gabler: 210

Project Guttenberg: Bronze by gold heard the hoofirons

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Russell analyses vignettes #13-19 of the Wandering Rocks episode. What is the health of the city's arteries? Clean and open, allowing the smooth passage of the populace, the life blood of any city? Or congested and clogged, stifling and slowly but surely paralysing it in a labyrinth? Here we meet Stephen in the challenging #13 - it's Stephen, what do you expect? his father and other layabouts in #14, Parnell's brother in #16 and finish with some grandeur and the viceregal cavalcade through the city. We started the chapter in #1 by considering how the church dominates the city; either or both positively and negatively. This time in the final vignette, we do likewise with an institution of state.

Penguin Classic: p. 310

Gabler: 198

Project Guttenberg: Stephen Dedalus watched

The Fine Trousers of Almidano Artifoni and Other Poems: A Rhyming Romp Through Joyce's Wandering Rocks: Amazon.co.uk: Raphael, Russell: 9798374768787: BooksThis podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Russell concludes the airing of his holiday video, I mean very serious poetry, I mean, well...you know. Now calm down and take your seats for vignettes #13-19, this is supposed to be educative and shall illuminate the Wandering Rocks episode. Honest. Thank you very much.

Should you wish to acquire this awful collection, surely destined for the library in Alexandria, there's a link to do so. It's been 'improved' since this recording in 2025.The Fine Trousers of Almidano Artifoni and Other Poems: A Rhyming Romp Through Joyce's Wandering Rocks: Amazon.co.uk: Raphael, Russell: 9798374768787: BooksThis podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Russell is supposed to be on holiday but he just cant keep away. Can't escape his ego at any rate. To keep pace with our discussion of the first twelve Wandering Rocks vignettes, Russell reads his so-called poems, one per vignette. Even the glorious countryside cannot entirely offset the awful poetry. But hey, art is all about the striving. Right?

Should you wish to acquire this awful collection, surely destined for the library in Alexandria, there's a link to do so. It's been 'improved' since this recording in 2025.The Fine Trousers of Almidano Artifoni and Other Poems: A Rhyming Romp Through Joyce's Wandering Rocks: Amazon.co.uk: Raphael, Russell: 9798374768787: Books

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

This is the reading of vignettes #13-19 of Wandering Rocks. #13 features Stephen, #16 Buck Mulligan and it concludes with #19, one of Russell's favourite passages in the book.

Penguin Classic: p. 310

Gabler (can't believe I said Gifford again!): p. 198

Project Guttenberg: Stephen Dedalus watched

The Fine Trousers of Almidano Artifoni and Other Poems: A Rhyming Romp Through Joyce's Wandering Rocks: Amazon.co.uk: Raphael, Russell: 9798374768787: BooksThis podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Russell, on location at the seaside, considers vignettes 2-12. Highlights include meeting Blazes Boylan in #5, #6 is largely in Italian, Bloom makes an appearance in #10 and Russell even makes a bold claim for some original thought in #7. Hang on to your hats.

Penguin Classic: p. 288

Gabler: p. 184

Project Guttenberg: Corny Kelleher closed

The Fine Trousers of Almidano Artifoni and Other Poems: A Rhyming Romp Through Joyce's Wandering Rocks: Amazon.co.uk: Raphael, Russell: 9798374768787: Books

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Our tenth episode, Wandering Rocks is like no other in Ulysses. Following nebeneinander (space) as opposed to nacheinander (time), words we learned in episode 3, it follows 19 scenes in various places across Dublin at broadly the same time, around 3.15 in the afternoon. Stephen and Bloom fall back among a cast of many, as the city itself becomes the central character. At the pub and/or in the last podcast, we read the first 12 scenes, each separate, yet somehow interlinked as we sense moving from the first to the second half of the book. The analysis for these will be spread over two podcasts, 2.27 and 2.28. This one will be concerned only with the first quite long vignette, centred on Fr. John Conmee SJ. A Jesuit educator, he was extremely significant in the lives of young James and younger Stanislaus Joyce.

Penguin Classic: p. 280

Gabler: 180

Project Guttenberg: The Superior, the Very Reverend Fr John Conmee.

The Fine Trousers of Almidano Artifoni and Other Poems: A Rhyming Romp Through Joyce's Wandering Rocks: Amazon.co.uk: Raphael, Russell: 9798374768787: Books

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Our tenth episode, Wandering Rocks is like no other in Ulysses. Following nebeneinander (space) as opposed to nacheinander (time), as we learned in episode 3, it follows 19 scenes in various places across Dublin at broadly the same time, around 3.15 in the afternoon. Stephen and Bloom fall back among a cast of many, as the city itself becomes the central character. Here we read the first 12 scenes. Each separate yet somehow interlinked as we sense moving from the first to the second half of the book.

Penguin Classic: p. 280

Gabler (did I say Gifford?!): p. 180

Project Guttenberg: The Superior, the Very Reverend Fr John Conmee

The Fine Trousers of Almidano Artifoni and Other Poems: A Rhyming Romp Through Joyce's Wandering Rocks: Amazon.co.uk: Raphael, Russell: 9798374768787: BooksThis podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

We conclude our analysis of Scylla & Charybdis, a very tricky chapter but somehow we get through it. We may now consider ourselves experts not only in Ulysses but in Shakespeare's entire oeuvre! Yeah, right..

Penguin Classic: 263-280

Gabler: 169-179

Project Guttenberg: Coleridge called him myriadminded.

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Had Shakespeare up to here? Surely room for a little more...and a tilly. Russell concludes the reading of the Scylla & Charybdis episode.

Penguin Classic: 263-280

Gabler: 169-179

Project Guttenberg: Coleridge called him myriadminded.

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Existentialism. What is it? Is it relevant to Ulysses? To the Scylla chapter especially? If so, why, how and so what? And why aren't you outside getting on with something?

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Stephen' s library literati lancing lingers. In this podcast we dissect the middle segment of the chapter. It's not in the microscopic detail of the two previous analysis podcasts because armed with all that, we can proceed, if not surefooted, then better than Bambi. Stephen continues to dazzle on Shakespeare and is getting on reasonably well, when who walks in to undermine him? Yes... The Buck.

Penguin Classic: pages 248-263

Gabler: pages 159-168

Project Guttenberg or similar ' A vestal's lamp..'

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Russell reads the middle segment of the Scylla episode. Stephen is pushing his Hamlet theory. Having controversially postulated that it is King Hamlet, rather than the Prince that may resonate more with Shakespeare, Stephen raises the stakes further by exploring whether infidelity might be involved not only at Ellsinore but back in Stratford. Gosh! Oh, and the Buck is back.

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Our reading of the first 12 or so pages of this episode (podcast 2.19) is sufficiently challenging as to warrant two analysis podcasts (2.20 and 2.21). The aim is to provide a decent base of understanding to enable much quicker future progress through this dense episode. Stephen continues to ponder whether Shakespeare draws from his own life experiences to produce the plays generally and Hamlet in particular (Scylla) or whether they are all products of his own imagination (Charybdis). And of course, as Stephen talks of Hamnet, we think of poor Rudy Bloom.

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Introducing the 'Shakespeare' episode. We are in the National Library of Ireland and Stephen is there to explain his Hamlet theory to the Dublin literati. As a bi-product, if not the main product, he's hoping to dazzle them with his intelligent and intellectual breadth, so that they may let him join their little gang. It's a dense chapter. So much so, that in this podcast, we take around an hour to consider just the first few pages. There will be similarly detailed analysis next time, but with all that knowledge tucked safely away, we can after that, proceed at a more normal pace. This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

We heard Mulligan reference Stephen's Hamlet theory way back in episode 1. Now in the National Library of Ireland he gets to explain it, not only to us but to the great and good of literary Dublin. Chapter 9 of Ulysses is considered one of the most challenging and so the accompanying analysis videos, are more detailed than usual. The first two at any rate. The episode will be read in three parts. Here's the first.

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

From Lestrygonians onward, Joyce drops hints of a link between Leopold Bloom and the Old Testament prophet Elijah. It is not really spelt out in the text but we feel something's going on. Here without expectation of firm conclusions, we take a closer look.

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Bloom it turns out, is a fussy eater, so he kisses a frog or two before alighting on the right place for lunch. A light lunch, it transpires. There he'll ponder, a little forlornly we might think, on his marriage and its place in the world; in the universe. And succoured by a sandwich and a glass of burgundy, he perks up. His mind is set, today of all days, on securing that ad and so earn money to buy Molly a present. Mulling over goddesses' rear ends, also helps.This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

After realising The Burton is not for him, Bloom decides on a light lunch at Davy Byrne's, where he will recall first love and contemplate both dodgy food and the rear ends of Greek goddesses. Then after a good deed and a scary near miss, it's off to Dublin's national library and museum.

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

In the Lestrygonians part of The Odyssey, Ulysses strays into the land of the cannibals, with disastrous consequences, especially for those of his crew that become lunch. In this first part of the chapter, Bloom is not eaten. So that's good. But let's consider what is going on.

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Lunchtime! Bloom is hungry and don't we just know it. We noticed last time that the book began to adapt its style to the character of the protagonist and more of the same here. Food, lunch, hunger, salivation drips from the words. Russell, having eaten beforehand, maintains his composure while reading the first half of the episode.This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

In Aeolus, there's a segment under the headline Rhymes and Reasons that readers struggle with, to the extent that the vast majority ignore it and pretend it never happened. Not here at North London Ulysses! Have the passage to hand and Russell will guide you step by step to reveal what Joyce may have been saying about the respective merits of the Irish Literary Revival generally and Douglas Hyde in particular, and how they compared to Dante, Joyce's favourite author.

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

Let's get to grips with all this fabulous oratory. Is it so good? The Art of the chapter is rhetoric. What even is that? And what on earth is Stephen going on about with the two women ascending Nelson's Pillar? Panic not, the winds are favourable and the clouds of obscurity shall part.

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.

We read the second part of Aeolus. Stephen arrives at the newspaper office to pass Deasy's letter to the editor, Myles Crawford. While there, he hears the second two of three examples of supposedly good oratory. On the way to the pub, he presents his own effort. Bloom has come and gone in trying to place the advert, and does not meet Stephen. He's a rare example of someone actually trying do some work!

This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.

© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.