New round of Ulysses starting in October

A new round of reading Ulysses with Fritz Senn is starting on

Thursday, 24 October 2019

4.30 - 6.00 p.m.

at the Zurich James Joyce Foundation, Augustinergasse 9, 8001 Zurich (2nd floor)

Please join us, everyone is welcome. You need no preparation, no special skills, just a basic knowledge of English and enough curiosity to want to give the novel a try. If you can, please bring your own copy of the book.

To give us a sense of how many participants to expect, please get in touch if you'd like to join the group, whether permanently or just tentatively.

Email: info@joycefoundation.ch
Phone: 044 211 83 01

Note that the Foundation has a second (independent) Ulysses reading group on Tuesday 5.30 - 7.00 p.m., which is also starting a new round of the book on 19 November 2019.

For more information about the Zurich James Joyce Foundation please visit its website.

Thursday, 25 July 2019 (end of book)

The last reading reached the end of the novel.

Please note: A new round will begin in autumn 2019 (probably in September), when the book will be picked up again from its beginning. We will post an announcement here as early as possible.

If you wish to engage in an alternative group-reading activity while you're waiting for Ulysses to restart, why not graduate temporarily or permanently to one of the Foundation's Finnegans Wake groups, either on Mondays (3 – 4.30 p.m.) or on Thursdays (7 – 8.30 p.m.)?

The groups' “online bookmarks” can be found by clicking on Monday FW blog and on Thursday FW blog.

You can also check the Zurich James Joyce Foundation website for further information.

Looking forward to another reading adventure with all of you.

Thursday, 18 July 2019 (18.1438)

The last reading stopped at:

          “losing it on horses”

                    (Penelope U18.1438)

Thursday, 11 July 2019 (18.1231)

The last reading stopped at:

          “I saw on him”

                    (Penelope U18.1231)

Thursday, 20 June 2019 (18.1037)

Please note: There will be no reading over the coming two weeks. The next reading will be held on Thursday, 11 July 2019.

The last reading stopped at:

          “looks well on you then”

                    (Penelope U18.1037)

Thursday, 13 June 2019 (18.840)

The last reading stopped at:

          “more money”

                    (Penelope U18.840)

Thursday, 6 June 2019 (18.623)

The last reading stopped at:

          “x x x x x”

                    (Penelope U18.623)

Thursday, 23 May 2019 (18.411)

Please note: There will be no Ulysses reading next Thursday, 30 May (Ascension Day).

The last reading stopped at:

          “fat lot I care”

                    (Penelope U18.411)

Thursday, 16 May 2019 (18.225)

The last reading saw the end of episode 17 (“Ithaca”) and started episode 18 (“Penelope”), stopping at:

          “everyone goes mad”

                    (Penelope U18.225)

Thursday, 2 May 2019 (17.2125)

The last reading stopped at:

          “which he removed.”

                    (Ithaca U17.2125)


Note: If you have the time, do stay on after the reading next week. Our resident scholar, Akram Pedramnia, is giving a presentation about her ongoing research on Thursday, 9 May at 7 p.m. Below are more details:

Thursday, 25 April 2019 (17.1886)

The last reading stopped at:

          “... Gott ... dein ...”

                    (Ithaca U17.1886)

Thursday, 18 April 2019 (17.1633)

The last reading stopped at:

          “connubiality.”

                    (Ithaca U17.1633)

Thursday, 11 April 2019 (17.1260)

Note: The reading group will be held as usual this coming Thursday, 18 April.



The last reading stopped at:

          “bookshelves opposite.”

                    (Ithaca U17.1260)

Thursday, 4 April 2019 (17.1150)

The last reading stopped at:

          “their planet.”

                    (Ithaca U17.1150)

Thursday, 28 March 2019 (17.894)

The last reading stopped at:

          “Unexpectedness.”

                  (Ithaca U17.894)

Thursday, 21 March 2019 (U17.656)

The last reading stopped at:

          “sunset 8.29 p.m.”

                    (Ithaca U17.656)

Thursday, 14 March 2019 (U17.416)

The last session stopped with Bloom's acrostic poem, written on 14 February 1888, the last line reading:

          “The world is mine.”

                    (Ithaca U17.416)

Thursday, 7 March 2019 (U17.182)

The last reading stopped at:

          “solvent, sound.”

                    (Ithaca U17.182)

Thursday, 28 February 2019 (U16.1865)

The last reading stopped at:

          “him at all.”

                    (Eumaeus U16.1865)

Thursday, 21 February 2019 (U16.1602)

The last reading stopped at:

          “in a word.”

                    (Eumaeus U16.1602)

Thursday, 14 February 2019 (U16.1357)

The last reading stopped at:

          “a cottonball one.”

                    (Eumaeus U16.1357)

Thursday, 7 February 2019 (U16.1179)

The last reading stopped at:

          “Let us change the subject.”

                    (Eumaeus U16.1179)

Thursday, 31 January 2019 (U16.888)

The last reading stopped at:

          “Tommaso Mastino”

                    (Eumaeus U16.888)

Thursday, 24 January 2019 (U16.703)

The last reading stopped at:

          “my ownio.”

                    (Eumaeus U16.703)

Thursday, 17 January 2019 (U16.414)

The last reading stopped at:

          “unobtrusively”

                    (Eumaeus U16.414)

Thursday, 10 January 2019 (U16.97)

The last reading stopped at:

          “all the circs.”

                    (Eumaeus U16.97)

Thursday, 20 December 2018 (U15.4509)

Please note: There will be no reading over the holidays. The first reading in the New Year will take place on Thursday, 3 January 2019.


The last reading stopped at:

          “covered of gravy!”

                    (Circe U15.4509)

Thursday, 13 December 2018 (U15.4150)

The last reading stopped at: ”

          “Baraabuum!”

                    (Circe U15.4150)

Thursday, 6 December 2018 (U15.3836)

The last reading stopped at:

          “after his death”

                    (Circe U15.3836)

Thursday, 29 November 2018 (U15.3390)

The last reading stopped at Bloom's:

          “Done. Prff!”

                    (Circe U15.3390)

Thursday, 22 November 2018 (U15.3050)

The last reading stopped at:

          “sacred oath ....”

                    (Circe U15.3050)

Thursday, 15 November 2018 (U15.2610)

The last reading stopped with Ben Dollard's words at:

          “ardent soul”

                    (Circe U15.2610)

Thursday, 8 November 2018 (15.2335)

The last reading stopped with Virag's words at:

          “Pollysyllabax!”

                    (Circe U15.2335)

Thursday, 1 November 2018 (15.2085)

The last reading stopped at:

          back to the front)  

                    (Circe U15.2085) 

Thursday, 25 October 2018 (15.1832)

The last reading stopped at:

          ... hotel syndicates.)  

                    (Circe U15.1832) 

Thursday, 18 October 2018 (15.1523)

The last reading stopped at:

          “You deserve it, your honour.”

                    (Circe U15.1523)

Thursday, 11 October 2018 (15.1176)

The last reading stopped at:

          “Judas Iscariot?”

                    (Circe U15.1176)

Thursday, 27 September 2018 (15.894)

Please note: 

There will be no reading next Thursday, 4 October 2018.


The last reading stopped at

          “general laughter”

                    (Circe U15.894)

Thursday, 20 September 2018 (15.576)

An early note: There will be no reading on Thursday, 4 October 2018.


The last reading stopped at:

          “yes, yes, yes.”

                    (Circe U15.576)

Thursday, 13 September 2018 (15.267)

An early note: There will be no reading on Thursday, 4 October 2018.


The last reading stopped at:

          “running chaps”

                    (Circe U15.267)

Thursday, 6 September 2018 (end of “Oxen of the Sun”)

The group has now finished episode 14,  “Oxen of the Sun”.

Thursday, 30 August 2018 (14.1488)

The last reading stopped at:

          “goodygood Malachi”

                    (Oxen of the Sun U14.1488)

Thursday, 23 August 2018 (14.1299)

The last reading stopped at:

          “dropped from its mother”

                    (Oxen of the Sun U14.1299)

Thursday, 16 August 2018 (14.1095)

The last reading stopped at:

          “murderers of the sun”

                    (Oxen of the Sun U14.1095)

Thursday, 2 August 2018 (14.930)

Please note that due to the annual Workshop at the Zurich James Joyce Foundation there will be no reading of Ulysses next Thursday, 9 August.


The last reading stopped at 

          “the ploughshare?” 

                    (Oxen of the Sun U14.930)

Thursday, 26 July 2018 (14.712)

The last reading stopped at

          “drake and duck”

                    (Oxen of the Sun U14.712)

Thursday, 19 July 2018 (14.504)

The last reading stopped at

          “together on to Horne's”

                    (Oxen of the Sun U14.504)

Thursday, 12 July 2018 (14.333)

The reading resumed this week after a short break and stopped at

          “rest should reign”

                    (Oxen of the Sun U14.333)

Thursday, 21 May 2018 (14.201)

Please note that there will be no Ulysses readings on the Thursdays of 28 June and of 5 July 2018 (Joyce Summer Schools in Trieste and in Dublin).


The group has now read as far as:

          “loth to leave.”

                    (Oxen of the Sun U14.201)

It will pick up from the beginning of the paragraph next time.

Thursday, 7 May 2018 (14.49)

Please note that there will be no reading next Thursday, 14 June 2018 (Joyce Symposium).


The last reading saw the end of “Nausicaa” and the opening of episode 14, “Oxen of the Sun”, stopping at:

          “was provided.”

                    (Oxen of the Sun U14.49)

Thursday, 31 May 2018 (13.1181)

The last reading stopped at:

          “winked at Mr Bloom”

                    (Nausicaa U13.1181)

Thursday, 24 May 2018 (13.981)

The last reading stopped at:

          “Better detach.
                   Ow!”

                    (Nausicaa U13.981)

Thursday, 17 May 2018 (13.771)

The last reading stopped at:

          “She's lame! O!”

                    (Nausicaa U13.771)

Thursday, 3 May 2018 (13.504)

Please note: There will be no reading next Thursday, 10 May (Ascension Day).


The last reading stopped at:

          “difference for himself.”

                    (Nausicaa U13.504)

Thursday, 26 April 2018 (13.242)

The group has now begun the 13th episode, “Nausicaa”. The last reading stopped at:

          “down into her eyes.” 

                    (Nausicaa U13.242)


Catherine Meyer sends a painting to illustrate the passage just read. She writes:

“The summer evening had begun to fold the world in its mysterious embrace.” I took this lovely scenery described at the opening of the chapter and transferred it to the medium of colour. In the foreground are the three girls, Cissy Caffrey cuddling the Baby, Edy Boardman and Gerty MacDowell. Far away in the background the twins are still playing peacefully.

By way of a hint regarding an abstract element, the orange cross is a symbolic representation of the Church of Mary.

Catherine Meyer © Zürich 2018

Thursday, 19 April 2018 (end of Cyclops)

The group has now reached the end of episode 12, “Cyclops”.

Catherine Meyer made a painting to illustrate the end of the chapter. She writes:

I painted Elija in lively colours riding in a wagon towards heaven.

At the beginning of my study I was a bit puzzled as to what subject I should choose for the last few pages and how I should paint it. After trying out this and that, I decided upon a pastel combined with watercolour to underline that strong moment when Elija is in a wagon, surrounded by fire and ascending to the glory of heaven, which concludes this intense chapter.

Catherine Meyer © Zürich 2018

Thursday, 12 April 2018 (12.1667)

The last reading stopped at:

          “Cursed by God.”

                    (Cyclops U12.1667)

Catherine Meyer sends an illustration for this blog post. She writes:

I made a drawing of “old Vic” and the Alaki of Abeakuta. It is almost a cartoon in its features but still has the character of a freely drawn image. In it, the “great squaw Victoria” presents the “illuminated bible” to the Alaki, who then drinks “a lovingcup of firstshot usquebaugh to the toast Black and White from the skull of his immediate predecessor” (12.1523–28).

Catherine Meyer © Zürich 2018

Thursday, 5 April 2018 (12.1375)

The last reading stopped at: 

          “Kathleen ni Houlihan” 

                    (Cyclops U12.1375)


Catherine Meyer sends a watercolour to illustrate this blog post, inspired by the sentence “All wind and piss like a tanyard cat” (12.1311–12).

Catherine Meyer © Zürich 2018

Thursday, 29 March 2018 (12.1238)

The last reading stopped at:

          “beam in their own”

                    (Cyclops U12.1238)

Thursday, 22 March 2018 (12.959)

The group has now reached:

          “he never ate.”

                    (Cyclops U12.959)

Catherine Meyer sends a drawing, explaining:

I mingled two different statements from the last reading, both of which I think show the same kind of humour: “Arsing around from one pub to another” (12.752) and a few lines later “Let me, said he, so far presume upon our acquaintance which, however slight it may appear if judged by...” (12.786). 

An Irish scholar once said to Fritz Senn that one could read this kind of formally polite interpolation as being spoken by somebody who is not quite steady on his legs.

On my painting you can see that arsing around or being polite leads to the same dancing scene.

Catherine Meyer © Zürich 2018