James Joyce’s 'Ulysses' (1922) is considered a masterpiece of Modernist literature, but for years it was legally unreadable in much of the English-speaking world. The novel, which chronicles a single day in the life of Leopold Bloom in Dublin, was banned in the United States and the United Kingdom upon its release due to its 'obscene' content, including frank depictions of bodily functions and sexuality. The ban lasted until 1933 in the U.S., when Judge John M. Woolsey issued a landmark ruling stating that the book was 'sincere and honest' and not 'aphrodisiac' in purpose. This legal victory was a turning point for freedom of expression in literature. Joyce spent seven years writing the novel, often working in poverty and suffering from severe eye problems, ultimately creating a work that revolutionized the 'stream of consciousness' technique.