This collection charts the vital contextual backgrounds to James Joyce's life and writing. The essays collectively show how Joyce was rooted in his times, how he is both a product and a critic of his multiple contexts, and how important he remains to the world of literature, criticism and culture.

Preface; Part I. Life and Works: 1. Chronology of composition and publication of the major works Stacey Herbert; 2. Joyce's lives, memoirs and biographies Finn Fordham; 3. Letters William S. Brockman; Part II. Theory and Critical Reception: 4. Prewar Joyce John Nash; 5. Postwar Joyce Joseph Brooker; 6. Structuralism, deconstruction, post-structuralism Sam Slote; 7. Gender and sexuality Marian Eide; 8. Psychoanalysis Luke Thurston; 9. Post-colonialism Gregory Castle; 10. Genetic criticism Dirk van Hulle; 11. Translation studies Jolanta Wawrzycka; 12. World literature and cosmopolitanism Eric Bulson; 13. Twenty-first-century critical contexts Sean Latham; Part III. Historical and Cultural Context: 14. Being in Joyce's world Cheryl Temple Herr; 15. Dublin L. M. Cullen; 16. The Irish nineteenth century Matthew Campbell; 17. The Irish revival Clare Hutton; 18. The English literary tradition Patrick Parrinder; 19. Paris Jean-Michel Rabate; 20. Trieste John McCourt; 21. Greek and Roman themes Brian Arkins; 22. Medicine Vike Martina Plock; 23. Modernisms Michael Levenson; 24. Music Timothy Martin; 25. Irish and European politics, nationalism, socialism, empire Brian Caraher; 26. Newspapers and popular culture R. Brandon Kershner; 27. Language and languages Tim Conley; 28. Philosophy Fran O'Rourke; 29. Religion Geert Lernout; 30. Science Mark Morrison; 31. Cinema Maria di Battista; 32. Sex Christine Froula; Further reading; Index.