James Joyce’s Mandala

The Sanskrit word mandala means sacred circle. It is a spiritual-artistic practice that Eastern civilizations developed to manifest a geometry with layers of esoteric meaning. James Joyce's Mandala outlines and explains this iconic sacred geometry, and assesses how his works of literature, particularly Finnegans Wake, can be understood as mandalic constructs. It explores the issue of spiritual paralysis and how fascinated Joyce was by geometric imagery and symmetry, the technical devices employed in mandala construction. This is the first book-length comparison of Joyce's work with the mythic structure of the mandala.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 228 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Sanskrit term mandala, which means sacred circle, holds profound significance. Within this circle, a miniature representation of the universe and/or consciousness is depicted through icons. Eastern civilizations have cultivated a spiritual-artistic tradition of creating mandalas, employing various mediums such as sand, paint, and architecture, to reach remarkable technical proficiency. These mandalas manifest a complex geometry with layers of esoteric meaning, captivating both the artist and the initiated viewer.

James Joyce's Mandala delves into the intricate outline and explanation of this iconic sacred geometry. It explores the extent to which Joyce's literary works, particularly Finnegans Wake, can be interpreted as mandalic constructs. Through a comparative analysis of examples from Dubliners to the Wake, the book demonstrates how central the theme of spiritual paralysis is to Joyce's fiction, and how fascinated he was by geometric imagery and symmetry, the technical aspects employed in mandala construction. This is the first comprehensive book-length exploration of Joyce's work in relation to the mythical structure of the mandala. While acknowledging Joyce's unparalleled genius, the book employs his collagescape to delve into the secrets of the mandala principle, as well as utilizes mandala theory to shed light on his celebrated book of the night.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032076782