EPISODE · Jun 1, 2026 · 1H 12M
2.34 analysing Sirens 2
from North London Ulysses · host Russell Raphael
Today we I hope not too controversially, examine the touchy subject of nationalist sentimentality. The second half of the episode centres on the song The Croppy Boy and Ben Dollard's trenchant rendition has the pub audience welling up with emotion. Save Bloom, who pays attention to the siren song, but is not swept up onto its rocks. He has other things on his mind. Whether or not you agree that it is sentimental, is besides the point as Mr. Joyce suggests that it may well be and so this is an important aspect of the chapter. Further, it tees up the next episode perfectly, when we embark upon a dark path to which such sentimentality, if one is not careful, might lead. Penguin Classic: 356Gabler: 227Project Guttenberg: Blazes Boylan's smart tan shoes This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.
What this episode covers
Today we I hope not too controversially, examine the touchy subject of nationalist sentimentality. The second half of the episode centres on the song The Croppy Boy and Ben Dollard's trenchant rendition has the pub audience welling up with emotion. Save Bloom, who pays attention to the siren song, but is not swept up onto its rocks. He has other things on his mind. Whether or not you agree that it is sentimental, is besides the point as Mr. Joyce suggests that it may well be and so this is an important aspect of the chapter. Further, it tees up the next episode perfectly, when we embark upon a dark path to which such sentimentality, if one is not careful, might lead. Penguin Classic: 356Gabler: 227Project Guttenberg: Blazes Boylan's smart tan shoes This podcast forms part of an educational reading group and is intended for criticism, discussion, and study. James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) is in the public domain in the UK. This recording includes commentary, interpretation, and contextual explanation, and is not presented as a standalone audiobook. The readings in this podcast are provided for educational and discussion purposes. They are interwoven with commentary and analysis videos and are not intended to reproduce any specific commercial edition. The underlying text of Ulysses is in the public domain in the UK, and the reading here is part of a broader interpretive session. During sessions I refer to several editions of Ulysses for ease of navigation, including the Penguin Modern Classics edition or the Bodley Head 1993 'Gabler' edition or the Project Gutenberg e-book based on pre-1923 print editions. And may read from each and other editions. Page references are provided to help readers follow along in whichever edition they own. The reading itself is embedded within the broader commentary and discussion of the analysis podcasts and is not intended as a verbatim reproduction of any particular edition. This podcast contains or refers to commentary, analysis, and original discussion.© 2026 North London Ulysses and Russell Raphael. All rights reserved.
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2.34 analysing Sirens 2
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