As happens so often in Ulysses itself, we interrupt linear chronology to reflect on a previous episode. In a retrospective kind of arrangement—to quote pretentious Dubliner Tom Kernan—we recall the good old days of episode 8: Lestrygonians.
We are joined by Catherine Flynn, Associate Professor of English at UC Berkeley, editor of the recently released Cambridge Centenary Ulysses, and host of U22 The Centenary Ulysses Podcast. After we challenge her claim to host the only podcast celebrating the centenary of Ulysses, she leads us to consider how everything is focused on food in this episode, and how it can “get out of control.” If everything can be consumed—food, bodies, colonies, empires—what might this episode tell us about our own world of intense consumer capitalism?
We relish the delicious language and narrative, but also choke and chew over the racist depiction in the Mr. MacTrigger limerick.
Libations:
- Catherine: cup of tea—cup, not mug—complete with saucer and teaspoon
- Eric: a gin and tonic—NOT recommended; disgusting
- Wendy: Yorkshire Tea
- Shinjini: another tragic cuppa tea with a teabag
Mentions:
- The Cambridge Centenary Ulysses: The 1922 Text with Essays and Notes, edited by Catherine Flynn
- U22 The Centenary Ulysses Podcast
- James Joyce's Ulysses by Clive Hart and David Hayman
- Annotations to James Joyce's Ulysses, Sam Slote, Marc A Mamigonian, and John Turner
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Theme song: “Come on Over” by Scalcairn, via Blue Dot Sessions
Special thanks to Carin Goldberg, whose cover design for the Gabler edition of Ulysses inspired our logo.