Rating: 
Summary: Exhaustive and entertaining
Review: An indispensible resource for scholars and fans. No other biography so captures the man and his work. On top of that its a damn fine read, and I would recommend it to anyone who seeks to tackle either of Joyce's last two novels.
Rating:
Summary: Exhaustive and entertaining
Review: An indispensible resource for scholars and fans. No other biography so captures the man and his work. On top of that its a damn fine read, and I would recommend it to anyone who seeks to tackle either of Joyce's last two novels.
Rating: 
Summary: A masterful biography of the enigmatic James Joyce.
Review: Don't let the size of the book (including 67 pages of footnotes) daunt you; this is a beautifully written account of one of the most enigmatic figures in literature that combines precise scholarship with a straightforward narrative style into a model for the biographic form. Scholars of Joyce have undoubtedly read and re-read this book; however, for those readers who are just now approaching Joyce, or for those readers who have been frightened by the prospect, this biography will make the introduction painless as well as pleasant. Ellmann's biography treats every aspect of Joyce's life including family, friends, and the creative processs that resulted in his masterpieces. As Ellmann remarks in his preface: "In working over these pages, I have felt all my affection for him [Joyce] renewed." The reader of this judicious work will close the final page with this same sentiment.
Rating:
Summary: A masterful biography of the enigmatic James Joyce.
Review: Don't let the size of the book (including 67 pages of footnotes) daunt you; this is a beautifully written account of one of the most enigmatic figures in literature that combines precise scholarship with a straightforward narrative style into a model for the biographic form. Scholars of Joyce have undoubtedly read and re-read this book; however, for those readers who are just now approaching Joyce, or for those readers who have been frightened by the prospect, this biography will make the introduction painless as well as pleasant. Ellmann's biography treats every aspect of Joyce's life including family, friends, and the creative processs that resulted in his masterpieces. As Ellmann remarks in his preface: "In working over these pages, I have felt all my affection for him [Joyce] renewed." The reader of this judicious work will close the final page with this same sentiment.
Rating:
Summary: A masterful biography of a major master
Review: Ellmann tells the story of Joyce's life, his family life and his creative life. He tells the story chronologically and the book despite its being very detailed has strong narrative power. He makes us understand how deep Joyce's devotion was to his art. And he also provides insight into all of Joyce's great work.
There is never a substitute for reading the work of the writer, but this biography significantly aids in understanding both the man and the work.
Lovers of the work of Joyce should definitely have and read this work.
Rating:
Summary: Ellman's Masterwork Re-Issued, About Bloody Time!
Review: I am so happy that this hard to find book has finally received the new leash of life it so richly deserves. Ellman takes the reader on a journey, a journey into the times and life of the greatest writer of the 20th century. Get this book NOW! Just as the Beatles changed popular music forever, Richard Ellman's monumental legacy as a biographer (see also his Pulitzer prize winning Wilde bio) will never, I mean NEVER, be equalled. Question: Why would anyone else even attempt to chronicle Joyce when this book exists. BUY IT!!!
Rating:
Summary: Ellman's Masterwork Re-Issued, About Bloody Time!
Review: I am so happy that this hard to find book has finally received the new leash of life it so richly deserves. Ellman takes the reader on a journey, a journey into the times and life of the greatest writer of the 20th century. Get this book NOW! Just as the Beatles changed popular music forever, Richard Ellman's monumental legacy as a biographer (see also his Pulitzer prize winning Wilde bio) will never, I mean NEVER, be equalled. Question: Why would anyone else even attempt to chronicle Joyce when this book exists. BUY IT!!!
Rating:
Summary: classic
Review: I was prompted to read this by Tom Stoppard's glowing recommendation of it in "Travesties." Ellman certainly brings the liveliness of James Joyce's life to life, describing everything from his practical jokes to his desparate financial straits -- meticulous to the point of noting the times when Joyce entered the lottery. I'd read the original 1958 edition, and I'm curious how the revised edition would stand against that now-honoured text. For more Ellman, I highly recommend his collection of essays, "a long the river run."
Rating:
Summary: classic
Review: I was prompted to read this by Tom Stoppard's glowing recommendation of it in "Travesties." Ellman certainly brings the liveliness of James Joyce's life to life, describing everything from his practical jokes to his desparate financial straits -- meticulous to the point of noting the times when Joyce entered the lottery. I'd read the original 1958 edition, and I'm curious how the revised edition would stand against that now-honoured text. For more Ellman, I highly recommend his collection of essays, "a long the river run."
Rating:
Summary: It is impossible to praise this book too highly.
Review: I've just finished reading this masterful biography, and it has had the magical effect of making me forget all others. This is a simply splendid book -- a life of the greatest writer of the 20th Century that is so scrupulously detailed that one leaves it feeling you personally know and like the subject. Joyce is presented to us from all sides -- as friend, husband, father, drinker, raconteur and most importantly, writer; a man with unparalleled control of the English language and no control of life or money. One measure of the book's genius is that it makes you feel quite close to Joyce toward the end -- as he gets ever blinder and broker, his energy used up by a book he knows will go unread and a daughter who is slowly succumbing to mental illness. I think of this book now almost as part of the Joyce canon. I'm not sure you can really know Joyce without knowing Ellmann's Joyce, too.
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