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Dubliners (Oxford World's Classics)
 

Dubliners (Oxford World's Classics)

by James Joyce

The publication of James Joyce's Dubliners in 1914 was the result of ten years battling with publishers, resisting their demands to remove swear words, real place names and much else. Although only twenty-four when he signed his first publishing contract for the book, Joyce already knew its worth: to alter it in any way would "retard the course of civilization in Ireland." Joyce's aim was to... (read more)

Top tags: fiction,  short stories,  classic,  literature,  irish (all tags)

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Other Reviews

Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

Silke
  • Rated 5 stars

“Dublin at the turn of the nineteenth century is this book's source of inspiration. Joyce here captures a sense of sadness, a sense of folly, and a sense of dissatisfaction in this collection of short stories. Joyce intended fourteen stories for Dubliners, and the lyrically written, but awkwardly structured 'The Dead' was included in my Bantam Books edition (it reads in two seemingly incongruent parts). Notable short stories include 'A Mother', 'A Little Cloud', and 'Counterparts'....”

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Didn’t Like It

lilbear77
  • Rated 2 stars

“I gave this classic two stars, yet I wanted to really give it two and a half stars. Though I think Joyce can be a little dry and overly descriptive, I do have a certain love for the story, "The Dead." I just feel as if Joyce captures an essence of life in this short story that some more of the contemporary authors are missing. I'm reading a collection of short stories called, Shakespeare's Kitchen, that I'm having more trouble getting through than Dubliners. I guess what I'm trying to say...”

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Community:
  • Rated 4.006814 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 4.62963 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • nilofar s

    nilofar s said:

    “irainian author,Sadegh Hedayat has divided the literature history into 2 divisions:before Joyce and after Joyce!”

    posted Monday, December 31 2007
  • uplandpoet

    uplandpoet said:

    “Donnaa, you are too kiind to this silly old undisciplined fool. Of all of Joyce's work, only the opening chapter in Ulysess to be too disgusting for me to love. I guess that was part of his plan. To shock the sensibilities of the reader of the day. Now I do not find it shocking, just gross. Funny, John Kenedy O'Toole's character is also disgusting, but very easy to love. But then, I will be forever pissed at O'Toole for offing himself before we got another book, maybe the only thing worse is Harper Lee sitting down there in Monroeville, alive and healthy and not giving us but the one great work. I want to do tell her something, but then, I realize, I have given the world a lot less, so one must just be grateful for one Mockingbird, and maybe she has the good sense to know that is the only story she has in her..... oh bother, seems I have wandered again:)
    Anthony”

    posted Monday, July 16 2007
  • DonnaA

    donnaa said:

    “WOW! Great responses. I did not find any of them arrogant, biased. or offensive. I hope that in looking at this question, you looked a little more carefully at some of Joyce's skillful and careful work. I have never had a student love "Araby," and I think it is one of the best short stories every written.And, yes, I love it for the story, but I go back to it again and again for the depth...for all those things, not between the lines, but behind the lines, that I have not yet found. It is like making lace. The final product is beautiful, but the delight is in the creation.”

    posted Monday, July 16 2007
  • uplandpoet

    uplandpoet said:

    “Glad to hear your story, dickensfan. I am fond of dickens, too, but must confess, my all time classic favorites are Faulkner at his best, Harper Lee, A Death in the Family, though the author escapes me at the moment, and pretty much all of Joyce.

    As for modern writers, love Gloria Naylor, Kingsolver and Toni Morrison, among others, but have to admit I was half way through Love when I saw Toni speak in Miami, when she said the book was a vehicle for a point she wanted to make, I lost all interest, never could finish the book after that, doubt I will read another Morrison, well maybe someday, when she writes another, but that is the kind of thing I dont want in a story. I am sure Joyce had something in mind as did Faulkner, but I love them for the fabulous tales that they are. I guess that is why I didnt major in English:)

    Probably would have made my life as a writer easier, but I worship a good story, not how it fits into the grand scheme of literature. So, yeah, I am biased, and probably a little ignorant, but thanks for giving me a fig leaf! oh, I guess I was stealing imagery from the good book:) or does that come from greek statuary?
    Anthony”

    posted Sunday, July 15 2007
  • dickensfan

    dickensfan said:

    “Not ignorant, Anthony. Just biased, and probably with good reason. You are indeed correct that some professors, particularly those who have taught the same pieces over and over, lose the beauty of literature in their quest to get test-able information imparted to students who are less than interested in really learning. The challenge then becomes (at least for me in my own teaching) to try find those things that continue to inspire us as individuals. There are many pieces I no longer teach for that reason. And there are some pieces I love that for whatever reason I'm just ineffective at teaching (and so I don't). I like to think that if I'm passionate about a particular piece or a particular author, then I can impart some of that to my students. I see it as a sacred trust. All that other "stuff" -- the imagery, allusions, symbolism, etc. -- should enhance our enjoyment and understanding rather than stand in the way of it.

    I think bodrugan is dead on (I couldn't resist). Gabriel has been so caught up with the dead and with his own thoughts that he's overlooked the living. Now I have some other things to think about in regard to this story that I've read and taught dozens of times. Doesn't that just rock?

    All the best, friend. ;)

    ”

    posted Sunday, July 15 2007
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