This Norton Critical Edition is based on Hans Gabler's acclaimed text and is accompanied by his introduction and textual notes. John Paul Riquelme provides detailed explanatory annotations. "Backgrounds and Contexts" is thematically organised to provide readers with a clear picture of the novel's historical, cultural and literary inspirations. Topics include "Political Nationalism: Irish History, 1798-1916," "The Irish Literary and Cultural Revival," "Religion," and "Aesthetic Backgrounds." "Criticism" begins with John Paul Riquelme's helpful essay on the novel's structural form and follows with twelve diverse interpretations by, among others, Kenneth Burke, Umberto Eco, Hugh Kenner, Maud Ellmann, Joseph Valente and Marian Eide. A Selected Bibliography is also included.

詹姆斯·乔伊斯(1882—1941)是爱尔兰著名的现代派小说家，他历时七载完成了代表作《尤利西斯》(1922)。小说的主人公布卢姆是都柏林一家报纸的广告推销员，作者用许多逼真的细节描写这个彷徨苦闷的小市民和他寻欢作乐的妻子莫莉以及寻找精神之父的青年学生斯蒂芬这三个人一昼夜中的经历，实质上是现代西方社会中人的孤独与绝望的写照。作者把小说的主人公和荷马史诗《奥德修记》中的英雄尤利西斯(即奥德修斯)相比拟．把他在都柏林的游荡和尤利西斯的十年漂泊相比拟。

乔伊斯在《尤利西斯》中广泛运用了“意识流“的创作手法，形成一种崭新的风格，成为现代派小说的先驱。他不仅在遣词造句方面刻意创新，而且运用了大量的典故、引语和神话。小说出版后，其中某些词句被认为“淫秽”而受到指摘，因此长期被禁止在英美发行，直到1933年这部巨著才得以公开与英美读者见面。

译者研究本书多年，其译文忠实流畅，而且还对众多典故、引语等作了详尽的注释。