[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 103 (Thursday, June 16, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H5614-H5615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMEMORATING THE CENTENNIAL OF JAMES JOYCE'S ``ULYSSES''
(Mr. NEAL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the centennial of
James Joyce's ``Ulysses,'' arguably one of the great literary
accomplishments in history. The time-honored epic was published in its
entirety on Joyce's 40th birthday, February 2, 1922.
Born in Dublin and educated at University College Dublin, his words
transcend countries across the world. The
[[Page H5615]]
story is read and studied worldwide, and Joyce himself has become an
intrinsic part of world culture.
Through a stream of consciousness writing style, and with humor and
parody, Joyce has kept literary thinkers and historians engaged with
interpreting his words, even 100 years later.
In 265,222 words, Joyce chronicles the simple and even mundane
encounters of protagonist Leopold Bloom on one ordinary day in Dublin:
Thursday, June 16, 1904. Yet, Joyce does it with such wit, linguistic
exuberance, and high regard for the ordinary and often overlooked
details that readers remain captivated.
I am one of those readers.
June 16, today, is considered by Joyce fans as Bloomsday, and
festivals are taking place in Dublin, here in the States, and around
the world.
As such, let me wish all of you a happy Bloomsday.
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