Dubliners

James Joyce

Dec 2023 · Good Press

About this ebook

In James Joyce's 'Dubliners,' readers are transported to early 20th century Dublin through a collection of 15 interconnected short stories that vividly portray the lives of ordinary people in Ireland. Joyce's literary style is marked by his attention to detail and his exploration of themes such as paralysis and epiphany. 'Dubliners' is a landmark in modernist literature, as Joyce skillfully captures the mood of the times through his innovative use of stream-of-consciousness narration and intricate symbolism. Each story in the collection offers a unique glimpse into the complexities of human relationships and societal issues. Joyce's writing showcases his deep understanding of human nature and his ability to weave profound narratives that resonate with readers across generations. 'Dubliners' is a masterpiece that continues to be celebrated for its literary merit and societal commentary, making it a must-read for fans of modernist literature and Irish culture.

About the author

James Joyce was born on February 2, 1882, in Dublin, Ireland, into a large Catholic family. Joyce was a very good pupil, studying poetics, languages, and philosophy at Clongowes Wood College, Belvedere College, and the Royal University in Dublin. Joyce taught school in Dalkey, Ireland, before marrying in 1904. Joyce lived in Zurich and Triest, teaching languages at Berlitz schools, and then settled in Paris in 1920 where he figured prominently in the Parisian literary scene, as witnessed by Ernest Hemingway's A Moveable Feast. Joyce's collection of fine short stories, Dubliners, was published in 1914, to critical acclaim. Joyce's major works include A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Ulysses, Finnegans Wake, and Stephen Hero. Ulysses, published in 1922, is considered one of the greatest English novels of the 20th century. The book simply chronicles one day in the fictional life of Leopold Bloom, but it introduces stream of consciousness as a literary method and broaches many subjects controversial to its day. As avant-garde as Ulysses was, Finnegans Wake is even more challenging to the reader as an important modernist work. Joyce died just two years after its publication, in 1941.