Finnegans Wake Reading Groups

On site: Thursdays, 7-8.30 pm, Zurich James Joyce Foundation, Augustinergasse 9, 8001 Zurich, 8001 Zurich, hosted by Martin Mühlheim.

Online: Tuesdays, 7-8.30 pm, via Zoom, hosted by Dirk Vanderbeke. Information about the group's progress can be found at Tuesdayswake.

Updates about the Thursday group's progress will be given on this site (see posts below). A selection of the collages featuring on this bookmark can be found at Finnegans Wake Collages. 

New readers are always welcome! There is no need to sign up. Simply drop in and bring your own copy of the book, if you have one. 

The Friends of the Zurich James Joyce Foundation sponsor the reading groups so that they can be held free of charge. To contact them or to become a supporting member please email friends@joycefoundation.ch.

Extra Reading on Sunday, 27 September (independent from regular Thursday readings)

The reading of 20 September had to be cancelled at short notice (the common cold and mean flue seem to be doing the rounds).

The next Sunday reading (independent from regular Thursday reading) will be held on 27 September chez Fritz Senn at Mattenhof (Helen-Keller-Str. 12, 8051 Zurich, 3-4.30 p.m., meeting room AU05). We will continue with: “We can't do without them” (34.30). 

New readers are always welcome (no need to sign up). Should a Sunday reading need to be cancelled, this page will be updated as early as possible. Please check before making firm plans. If you have any questions please write to: friends@joycefoundation.ch

Thusday, 17 September 2026 (340.3)

The last reading stopped at: “boney bogey braggs.” (340.2)

Thursday, 10 September 2026 (339.23)

The last reading stopped at: “daguerre!” (339.23)

For the seven items of clothing described at 339.10–13:

“In his raglanrock and his malakoiffed bulbsbyg and his varnashed roscians and his cardigans blousejagged and his scarlett manchokuffs and his treecoloured camiflag and his perikopendolous gaelstorms” (339.10–13).

Thursday, 2 September 2026 (338.33)

The last reading stopped at: “Hold!” (338.33)

One favourite passage was:

“took his leg for his thumb” (338.29)

Thursday, 27 August 2026 (338.14)

The last reading stopped at: “Sea vaast a pool!” (338.14)

A favourite passage was:

“The man thut won the bettlle of the bawll” (337.34)

Thursday, 20 August 2026 (337.21)

The last reading stopped mid-paragraph at: “lurking lobstarts” (337.21)

Thursday, 7 August 2026 (336.32)

The last reading stopped at: “nullatinenties.” (336.32)

The next reading will take place on 20 August 2026.

One favourite passage was:

“cyclums cyclorums” (336.1)

Thursday, 30 July 2026 (335.32)

The last reading stopped at: “(They were saying).” (335.32)

One favourite passage was:

“madjestky” (335.2)

Thursday, 23 July 2026 (334.31)

The last reading stopped at: “(Silents)” (334.31)

Thursday, 16 July 2026 (333.28)

The last reading stopped mid-sentence at: “ropeloop ear” (333.28)

One favourite passage was:

“shoehandschiner” (333.4)

Thursday, 9 July 2026 (332.36)

The last reading stopped at: “Dvershen.” (332.36)

As a reference for the four Evangelists with their emblems (winged man, lion, calf, and eagle) contained in “pop and puma, calf and condor” (332.13):

Thursday, 2 July 2026 (332.9)

The last reading stopped at: “Peace, O wiley!” (332.9)

One favourite passage was:

"when capriole legs covets limbs of a crane” (331.28)

Thursday, 18 + 25 June 2026 (331.19)

The reading of 25 June was cancelled (due to heat wave). The last reading, held on 18 June, stopped at: “Delude of Isreal” (331.19)

Thursday, 11 June 2026 (330.19)

The last reading stopped at: “were roped” (330.19)

Thursday, 4 June 2026 (329.13)

The last reading stopped at: “Cawcaught. Coocaged.” (329.13)

Thursday, 28 May 2026 (328.13)

The last reading stopped mid-sentence at: “the ride onerable” (328.13)

One favourite passage was:

“pullar beer” (328.1)

Thursday, 21 May 2026 (327.25)

The last reading stopped mid-sentence at: “(pong!)” (327.25)

One favourite passage was:

“a nittlewoman” (327.3)

Thursday, 14 May 2026 (326.25)

The last reading stopped at: “But ear this:” (326.25)

One favourite passage was:

“fairioes” (326.18)

Thursday, 7 May 2026 (326.9)

The last reading stopped mid-sentence at: “the clansakiltic, sayd he” (326.9)