James Joyce's ''Dubliners'' is an enthralling
collection of modernist short stories which create a
vivid picture of the day-to-day experience of Dublin
life. This ''Penguin Classics'' edition includes notes
and an introduction by Terence Brown. Joyce's first
major work, written when he was only twenty-five,
brought his city to the world for the first time. His
stories are rooted in the rich detail of Dublin life,
portraying ordinary, often defeated lives with
unflinching realism. From ''The Sisters'', a vivid
portrait of childhood faith and guilt, to ''Araby'', a
timeless evocation of the inexplicable yearnings of
adolescence, to ''The Dead'', in which Gabriel Conroy is
gradually brought to a painful epiphany regarding the
nature of his existence, Joyce draws a realistic and
memorable cast of Dubliners together in an powerful
exploration of overarching themes. Writing of social
decline, sexual desire and exploitation, corruption and
personal failure, he creates a brilliantly compelling,
unique vision of the world and of human experience.
James Joyce (1[zasłonięte]882-19), the eldest of ten children, was
born in Dublin, but exiled himself to Paris at twenty as
a rebellion against his upbringing.He only returned to
Ireland briefly from the continent but Dublin was at
heart of his greatest works, ''Ulysses'' and ''Finnegans
Wake''. He lived in poverty until the last ten years of
his life and was plagued by near blindness and the grief
of his daughter's mental illness. If you enjoyed
''Dubliners'', you might like Joyce's ''Ulysses'', also
available in ''Penguin Modern Classics''. ''Joyce
redeems his ''Dubliners'', assures their identity, and
makes their social existence appear permanent and
immortal, like the streets they walk''. (Tom Paulin).
''Joyce's early short stories remain undimmed in their
brilliance''. (''Sunday Times''). |
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