‘James Joyce was and remains almost unique among novelists in that he published nothing but masterpieces’

 

THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT

 

Dubliners was James Joyce’s first major work. Set against the background of Dublin at the turn of the century, he describes, in a frank, realistic style, incidents in the lives of ordinary men and women, made extraordinary by the eye of his genius.

 

The stories deal progressively with youth, adolescence, young adulthood and maturity. Continuity is provided by the themes of repression, entrapment and revolt. But the unique wit of the Irish also bubbles frequently to the surface, relished and splendidly displayed.