Those who know more than I do about Ulysses and its author, James Joyce, say that this is best of the voluminous secondary literature. I started it immediately after finishing Ulysses, and found it enhanced my enjoyment of what I had read. Budgen was present at the creation, so to speak, in that he and Joyce met nearly daily while both lived in Zurich during World War 1 and while Joyce was immersed in his ten-year project. A rough outline of the contents and style of each of the sections of the book are interspersed with his insights into the man. A final chapter deals with what was long called Work in Progress as parts were published, eventually Finnegans Wake. I always thought that book would be too obscure for me, but with Budgen's encouragement, I might even tackle that one of these days. He makes it sound enjoyable to read. This, too, is a good read, although no substitute for reading Ulysses itself. ( )