Ulysses Reading Group

The Ulysses readings with Fritz Senn are held on Thursdays 5-6 pm at the Zurich James Joyce Foundation, Augustinergasse 9, 8001 Zurich. 

Updates about the group's progress are given on this site (see below). 

New readers are always welcome! There is no need to sign up. Simply drop in with your own copy of the book, if you have one. 

The reading groups are sponsored by the Friends of the Foundation so that they can be held free of charge. To contact the Friends or become a supporting member please email friends@joycefoundation.ch.

Thursday, 11 September 2025 (8.936)

The last reading stopped at: “a youth enjoyed her, to the yard” (8.936).

The numbers in 8.936 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (8 = chapter number; 936 = line number).

Thursday, 4 September 2025 (8.757)

The last reading stopped at:

— Have you a cheese sandwich?

— Yes, sir.

(8.757)

The numbers in 8.757 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (8 = chapter number; 757 = line number).

*  *  *

One of the group's favourite passages was:

“Perfume of embraces all him assailed. With hungered flesh obscurely, he mutely craved to adore.” (8.638)

In his James Joyce and the Making of Ulysses, Joyce's friend Frank Budgen remembers walking with him “one evening on the Bahnhofstrasse” in Zurich and asking him how his writing was going. Joyce replied, “I have been working hard on it all day”.

     “Does that mean that you have written a great deal?" I said.
     “Two sentences,” said Joyce.
     I looked sideways but Joyce was not smiling. I thought of Flaubert.
     “You have been seeking the mot juste?” I said.
     “No,” said Joyce. “I have the words already. What I am seeking is the perfect order of words in the sentence. There is an order in every way appropriate. I think I have it.”
     “What are the words?” I asked.
     “I believe I told you,” said Joyce, “that my book is a modern Odyssey. Every episode in it corresponds to an adventure of Ulysses. I am now writing the Lestrygonians episode, which corresponds to the adventure of Ulysses with the cannibals. My hero is going to lunch. But there is a seduction motive in the Odyssey, the cannibal king's daughter. Seduction appears in my book as women's silk petticoats hanging in a shop window. The words through which I express the effect of it on my hungry hero are: 'Perfume of embraces all him assailed. With hungered flesh obscurely, he mutely craved to adore.' You can see for yourself in how many different ways they might be arranged” (20).

Budgen, Frank. James Joyce and the Making of Ulysses and Other Writings. London: Oxford University Press, 1972.

Budgen's book is available on the following site: 

https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AMF2PZFZHI2WND8U

Thursday, 28 August 2025 (8.563)

The last reading stopped at: “If you imagine it's there you can almost see it. Can't see it.” (8.563)

The numbers in 8.563 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (8 = chapter number; 563 = line number).

Thursday, 21 August 2025 (8.390)

The last reading stopped at: “Trouble for nothing” (8.390).

The numbers in 8.390 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (8 = chapter number; 390 = line number).

Penguin (1992): p. 180

Thursday, 14 August 2025 (8.154)

The last reading stopped at: “barbed wire” (8.154)

The numbers in 8.154 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (8 = chapter number; 154 = line number).

Penguin (1992): p. 195

Summer Break

Please note that the reading group is taking a break over the summer. The next reading will be held on Thursday, 14 August.

Thursday, 17 July 2025 (end of chapter 7)

The last reading reached the end of chapter 7 (“Aeolus”). 

Thursday, 10 July 2025 (7.841)

The next reading will pick up from the headline: “FROM THE FATHERS” (7.841)

The numbers in 7.841 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (7 = chapter number; 841 = line number).

Penguin (1992): p. 180

Thursday, 3 July 2025 (reading cancelled)

The reading of 3 July had to be cancelled at short notice. (Apologies.) The next reading is planned for Thursday, 10 July 2025. 

Thursday, 26 June 2025 (7.614)

The last reading stopped just before the headline “YOU CAN DO IT!” (7.614).

The numbers in 7.614 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (7 = chapter number; 614 = line number).

Penguin (1992): p. 171

Thursday, 19 June 2025 (7.326)

The last reading stopped just before the headline “HIS NATIVE DORIC” (7.326).

The numbers in 7.326 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (7 = chapter number; 326 = line number).

Penguin (1992): p. 160, second line

Thursday, 12 June 2025 (7.60)

The last reading finished “Hades” and started “Aeolus” (chapter 7), stopping at the two lines from the opera Martha:

Co-ome thou lost one,

Co-ome thou dear one. (7.60)

The numbers in 7.60 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (7 = chapter number; 60 = line number)

Penguin (1992): p. 149, last third of the page

Thursday, 5 June 2025 (6.901)

The last reading stopped at “Good Lord, what became of him?” (6.901)

The numbers in 6.901 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (6 = chapter number; 901 = line number)

Penguin (1992): p. 142, at ca. one third of the page

Thursday, 22 May 2025 (6.682)

Please note: There will be no reading on Thursday, 29 May (Ascension Day). The next reading will take place on 5 June 2025.

The last reading stopped at: “Troy measure.” (6.682)

The numbers in 6.682 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (6 = chapter number; 682 = line number)

Penguin (1992): p. 133, 5 lines from bottom of page

Thursday, 15 May 2025 (6.516)

The last reading stopped at: “Too many in the world.” (6.516)

The numbers in 6.516 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (6 = chapter number; 516 = line number)

Penguin (1992): p. 127, end of second paragraph

Thursday, 8 May 2025 (6.288)

The last reading stopped at: “A stifled sigh came from under Mr Power’s hand.” (6.288)

The numbers in 6.288 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (6 = chapter number; 288 = line number)

Penguin (1992): p. 118, just after the middle of the page

Thursday, 25 April 2025 (6.53)

Please note: There will be no reading on 1 May 2025 (Labour Day). The next reading will take place on Thursday, 8 May.

The group has now finished reading chapter 5 (“Lotus Eaters”) and started chapter 6 (“Hades”), stopping at: “the wise child that knows her own father” (6.53).

The numbers in 6.53 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (6 = chapter number; 53 = line number)

Penguin (1992): p. 109

Thursday, 17 April 2025 (5.385)

The last reading stopped at: “Yes: under the bridge.” (5.385)

The numbers in 5.385 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (5 = chapter number; 385 = line number)

Penguin (1992): p. 100, line 20

Thursday, 10 April 2025 (5.219)

Note: The reading on Thu, 17 April 2025 will go ahead as usual.

The last reading stopped at: “Still their neigh can be very irritating.” (5.219)

Thursday, 3 April 2025 (end of chapter 4)

The reading group has reached the end of chapter 4 (“Calypso”), closing with the words: “Poor Dignam!”

Thursday, 27 March 2025 (4.358)

The last reading stopped at: “Nice name he has.” (4.358)

The numbers in 4.358 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (4 = chapter number; 358 = line number)

Penguin (1992): p. 78, line 13

Thursday, 21 March 2025 (4.164)

The last reading stopped at: “whack by whack by whack.” (4.164)

The numbers in 4.164 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (4 = chapter number; 164 = line number)

Penguin (1992): p. 71, end of first paragraph

Thursday, 13 March 2025 (end chapter 3)

The last reading saw the end of chapter 3 (“Proteus”). 

Thursday, 6 March 2025 (3.389)

The last reading stopped at: “Passing now.” (3.389)

The numbers in 3.389 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (3 = chapter number; 389 = line number). 

Thursday, 27 February 2025 (3.238)

The last reading stopped at: “Lascivious people” (3.238)

The numbers in 3.238 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (3 = chapter number; 238 = line number).

Thursday, 20 February 2025 (3.78)

The last reading stopped at: “He has washed the upper moiety” (3.78).

The numbers in 3.78 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (3 = chapter number; 78 = line number).

Thursday, 13 February 2025 (2.398)

The last reading stopped at Mr Deasy’s quoting of the phrase:

        For Ulster will fight

        And Ulster will be right.

        (2.398)

The numbers in 2.398 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (2 = chapter number; 398 = line number).

Thursday, 6 February 2025 (2.172)

The last reading stopped at: “tyrants willing to be dethroned” (2.172)

The numbers in 2.172 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (2 = chapter number; 172 = line number).

Thursday, 23 January 2025 (1.665)

The last reading stopped at: 

“Hear, hear! Prolonged applause. Zut! Nom de Dieu!” (1.665)

The numbers in 1.665 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (1 = chapter number; 665 = line number).

Thursday, 17 January 2025 (1.423)

The last reading stopped at: “with wondering unsteady eyes.” (1.423)

The numbers in 1.423 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (1 = chapter number; 423 = line number.

Thursday, 9 January 2025 (1.176)

A new round of Ulysses readings has begun at the Zurich James Joyce Foundation (Augustinergasse 9, Zurich, 2nd floor). 

The readings are free of charge and suited to both beginners and returners. All you need is a basic knowledge of English and your curiosity. If you have a copy of the book, please take it with you. You can join at any point and come back for as long as you wish.New readers are always welcome. 

The first reading stopped at: “omphalos” (1.176)

The numbers in 1.176 refer to the place in the text edited by Hans Walter Gabler (1 = chapter number; 176 = line number.