Book Review: The Most Dangerous Book tells a story from a time when books could be dangerous, the story of literary soldiers battling for liberty. Today many authors try so hard to be dangerously daring and cutting edge, and end up just being shallow and precious. This is the real deal, when Joyce was writing Ulysses, it was the book he had to write, and it was an all-time, tho difficult, classic. Interestingly, Joyce doesn't come off as well as many of the other actors in the tale, all of whom were needed to make his book a reality. Many put their livelihood, money, and reputation on the line to protect, advance, and disseminate Joyce's classic. Heroes. When compared to the porn that's so easily found today, it's hard to believe that this masterpiece was ever a book that had to be fought for because of alleged obscenity. Nothing relating to Ulysses is too small for the author, from Joyce's eye problems and surgeries, problems with printers, the arduous writing process, rich patrons, smuggling, confiscations, the legal battles. The Most Dangerous Book is the kind of necessary nonfiction that amplifies our enjoyment and understanding of fiction. And I kinda like the idea of a book written about a book. If you like Joyce or Ulysses, are interested in censorship, prudishness, and the legal system, or simply want to read about a turning point in literary history, The Most Dangerous Book is the book for you. Now I've just got to read the darn book itself. [5★]
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