Dubliners by James Joyce (Penguin Popular Classics)

Description

“Dubliners” is a collection of short stories written by the Irish author James Joyce and published in 1914. The book consists of 15 stories, each of which presents a vivid and often poignant portrait of everyday life in Dublin, Ireland, in the early 20th century.

The stories in “Dubliners” are connected by their focus on ordinary people in Dublin and their experiences, struggles, and epiphanies. The characters and situations are diverse, ranging from children to adults, and encompass various aspects of Dublin society, including family life, religion, politics, and the impact of British colonial rule.

Some of the notable stories in the collection include “The Sisters,” “Araby,” “A Little Cloud,” “Eveline,” and “The Dead.” “The Dead” is the final and most famous story in the collection, and it is often regarded as one of the greatest short stories in the English language. It tells the story of a family gathering in Dublin, which culminates in a powerful and introspective reflection on life, death, and the meaning of existence.

“Dubliners” is celebrated for its realistic and often bleak depiction of the lives of the characters, as well as for its use of epiphanies—moments of sudden revelation or insight. These epiphanies are a recurring theme throughout the stories, and they serve as a means of illuminating the inner lives and experiences of the characters.

James Joyce’s writing in “Dubliners” laid the groundwork for his later, more experimental works, such as “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” and “Ulysses.” The collection is considered a seminal work of modernist literature and is highly regarded for its literary innovation and its exploration of the human condition.