Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Quote of the Day (James Joyce, on the “Man of Genius”)


“A man of genius makes no mistakes. His errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery."—James Joyce, Ulysses (1922)

Today is Bloomsday. If you want an idea of the full meaning of that word—and of what a “man of genius” can do with the richness of the English language—then dive into Ulysses.

For years, I asked myself if I would ever get around to reading James Joyce’s demanding epic of 24 hours in an ordinary Dubliner’s life.

Yes I said yes I will Yes.

(If you want an infinitely more spirited rendition of that line from Molly Bloom’s famous soliloquy, see Sally Kellerman in Rodney Dangerfield’s Back to School.)

I finally stopped saying “yes” and did something about it. Nothing could have prepared me for the full panoply of tricks Joyce employed to render the nature of experience.

(Thanks to my friend Brian for the suggestion.)