What better way to tackle the most titanic of twentieth century novels—both within and beyond the text itself—than to bring in a very special guest? Indirect Books’ debut author, and noted literary maverick, Michael Nath joins to show to get stuck in to Joyce’s monumental Ulysses. We take a look at Episodes Four (“Calypso”) & Five (“The Lotus Eaters”), more or less, in this epic two-part conversation.

Michael starts us off with his personal connection to the book, having first read it in 1983 and falling in love with both its humor and its though. He suggests that Ulysses provides a sense of home for readers over time, much like its own thematic. From there we get into all manner of things, from Joyce's skillful manipulation of voice to the idea of Ulysses as a secular Bible and its expansive nature, even in these (seemingly) straightforward episodes.

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