James Joyce

 
When a particular idea of 'progress' takes on a peculiar architectural form, the masses believe that it is all right, kind of fun and the idea continues its merry ways. After all, they are temporary objects in a sphere that time will eventually take care of. Even if a structure like the Coliseum cannot last forever, the sheer magnificence of the traces left, attract millions of tourists to Rome every year! In literature, no monument to innovation was sought but many were made. One of these, deservedly or not, is James Joyce, considered a pivotal figure in changing both the writers' and the readers' preconditionings about literary form to do with the senses and the places. Imagination is triggered in many varied ways. If you find Dedalus, in the end a bit boring; and you are certainly allowed to have such opinions about literary heroes, yet, it doesn't remove the familiarity that Joyce invents for you on his behalf in any case. The readers, even those who are not Irish, are after all, for whom, his books were written. He may thus implore you to look at any photograph without prejudice. If he makes you do that then perhaps it is about time to get hold of one of his famed masterpieces representing as they do the humane touch of modernism.