Dubliners by James Joyce (Book Analysis)

This practical and insightful reading guide offers a complete summary and analysis of Dubliners by James Joyce. It provides a thorough exploration of the plot and characters of each story, and of the main themes of the collection as a whole. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time.

This clear and detailed 66-page reading guide is structured as follows:

• Biography of James Joyce
• Presentation of Dubliners
• Summary of Dubliners
• Character study
• Analysis of Dubliners
  • “Dear, dirty Dublin”
  • Religion
  • National identity
  • Marriage
  • Literary ambitions

About Dubliners

Dubliners is a collection of 15 short stories featuring a range of protagonists, from truanting schoolboys to retired musicians. Through this diverse cast of characters, Joyce depicts the reality of life in Dublin, from its everyday joys to its dark underbelly, and explores ordinary people’s search for a sense of identity at a time when the Irish nationalist movement was shaping thought in the country.

The collection had a difficult route to publication: it was submitted no fewer than 18 times to 15 different publishers before finally being published by Grant Richards in 1914.

About James Joyce

James Joyce was an Irish writer who was born in Dublin in 1882. However, it was not long before he left his home country for good, unable to identify with a land which was so divided. He lived in several different places, including Paris and Italy. From 1906 onwards, he was afflicted by a series of eye problems which ultimately resulted in the need to wear an eyepatch.

Although Joyce was a very respected writer, he was misunderstood and did not enjoy a great deal of popularity while he was alive. He was acquainted with several great writers of his time, including Marcel Proust and Samuel Beckett. He died in Zurich in 1941.