Joyce in Court
Joyce in Court by Adrian Hardiman, published by Bloomsbury USA in November 2018, offers a detailed exploration of James Joyce’s intricate relationship with the legal system. This 384-page work delves into Joyce’s fascination with law, particularly as reflected in his notable works, Ulysses and Finnegans Wake. Hardiman’s research reveals Joyce’s concerns about miscarriages of justice and the potential dangers posed by unchecked judicial power, providing a unique perspective on the literary figure’s engagement with legal themes.
Readers will find a vivid portrayal of the Edwardian courtrooms of Dublin and London, where the stakes of justice were often life and death. Hardiman brings to life the eccentric barristers, corrupt police, and powerful judges that populated this era, highlighting both the entertainment and horror inherent in the legal proceedings. This edition presents a significant examination of legal history and literary criticism, making connections between Joyce’s literary output and the societal issues surrounding law and justice that remain relevant today.
Official synopsis Publisher
Books about the work of James Joyce are an academic industry. Most of them are unreadable and esoteric. Adrian Hardiman’s book is both highly readable and strikingly original.
He spent years researching Joyce’s obsession with the legal system, and the myriad references to notorious trials in Ulysses and Finnegans Wake. Joyce was fascinated by and felt passionately about miscarriages of justice, and his view of the law was coloured by the potential for grave injustice when policemen and judges are given too much power. Hardiman recreates the colourful, dangerous world of the Edwardian courtrooms of Dublin and London, where the death penalty loomed over many trials.
He brings to life the eccentric barristers, corrupt police and omnipotent judges who made the law so entertaining and so horrifying. This is a remarkable evocation of a vanished world, though Joyce’s scepticism about the way evidence is used in criminal trials is still highly relevant.
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