North London Ulysses

Russell Raphael

North London Ulysses is a complete guided reading of James Joyce’s Ulysses, chapter by chapter, page by page. Episodes alternate between reading and analysis. It companions weekly live readings in a north London pub and video versions on You Tube. https://www.youtube.com/@northlondonulysses Part of an educational reading group, this is intended for criticism, discussion, and study and not as an audiobook. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. Recordings include commentary and interpretation and readings are from various editions of Ulysses.

  1. 5d ago

    2.36 analysing Cyclops 1

    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.

    1h 21m

  2. 6d ago

    2.35 reading Cyclops 1

    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.

    1h 3m

  3. 6d ago

    2.34 analysing Sirens 2

    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.

    1h 12m

  4. 6d ago

    2.33 reading Sirens 2

    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.

    51 min

  5. 6d ago

    2.32 analysing Sirens 1

    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.

    1h 34m

  6. May 31

    2.31 reading Sirens 1

    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.

    1h 1m

  7. May 30

    2.30 analysing Wandering Rocks 3

    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 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.

    37 min

  8. May 30 ·  Bonus

    Bonus EVS 10.2 Wandering through Dorset Rocks 2

    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. 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.

    15 min
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About

North London Ulysses is a complete guided reading of James Joyce’s Ulysses, chapter by chapter, page by page. Episodes alternate between reading and analysis. It companions weekly live readings in a north London pub and video versions on You Tube. https://www.youtube.com/@northlondonulysses Part of an educational reading group, this is intended for criticism, discussion, and study and not as an audiobook. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. Recordings include commentary and interpretation and readings are from various editions of Ulysses.

Information

  • Creator
    Russell Raphael
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Russell Raphael
  • Show Website
    North London Ulysses