Ken’s Reviews > James Joyce > Status Update

At least Ellmann doesn't pull punches with his subject like many biographers, who fall in love with theirs. Joyce can be a hot mess.

Life is good when anonymous rich people have checks sent to you regularly while you're trying to raise a family and your Dubliners manuscript has been rejected 40 times (Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Exiles not far behind).

It's also good with Ezra Pound and W.B. Yeats doing due diligence in the PR game for you.

(He says, waiting for an anonymous check to arrive...)

Settling in to the launch of Jim's career. I most pity his less talented but more steadfastly loyal younger brother, Stanislaus. (And why does an Irish lad get such a Polish-sounding name?)

Joyce, small in stature, seems petty and small in character, too, at least in the early going. Lots of immature jealousies, rudeness, and boastfulness because, after all, he's a genius.

Also amazed at how much he mined his own life for ALL his stories and books. If you were family, friend, or enemy, look out! Ellmann's forever drawing the parallels.

Entertaining, for a biography.