Product Overview
Cronicles the early life of the novel Ulysses and the various legal cases surrounding its publication. It adds not only to the understanding of Joyce but also to the history of the laws of obscenity, censorship, and freedom of speech. The author's experience as a lawyer brings a deep understanding and analysis to each case. He weaves in a narrative of the text of Ulysses, the contemporaneous historical context and the motives of the players (John Quinn, Judge Woolsey et al) involved in each step of the trial. Hassett is a Harvard-trained trial lawyer and a formidable critic in his own right, and so he brings to this book both his literary and legal acumen, becoming the ideal chronicler of this tale. --Irish Voice [Hassett] has a smooth scholarly style that draws the reader in, and his argument is well-researched and persuasive. . . Hassett creates an engaging portrait of the dawn of literary modernism and will leave readers nostalgic for a time when a challenging literary novel could be the cause of so much trouble. --Publishers Weekly [A] superbly written gem of a book . . . Hassett's clear writing style makes this work accessible to all readers, who will find the legal analysis both comprehensive and compelling. --Library Journal (Starred Review) Hassett has a sensitivity to plot, and contructs some lively stories that incorporate vivid characters as well as courtroom drama. --James Joyce Literary Supplement
