James Joyce, an iconic figure within Irish, British, European and American cultures, is growing in importance in more widely global cultural contexts as well. Dubliners, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and, above all, Ulysses hold an unassailable place within the canon of twentieth-century modernist literature. Contemporary writers-- particularly the more experimental or avant-garde- are inspired by Joyce, often placing him at the forefront of significant cultural change. Many innovations in literary and cultural theory, as well as modern developments in academic criticism are defined by and through productive encounters with Joyce's work.

A Companion to James Joyce offers a unique composite overview and analysis of Joyce's writing, his global image, and his growing impact on twentieth- and twenty-first-century literatures. The volume's essays offer select critical readings of texts and explore directions for contemporary and future Joyce studies. A comprehensive resource for students and scholars, the book highlights current key debates and places the discussion of Joyce in some familiar and some less expected surroundings suggesting future departures for criticism.