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Dubliners

James Joyce

Dubliners

James Joyce

"Dubliners" by James Joyce is a collection of fifteen short stories written from 1904 to 1907 and published in 1914. Set in early twentieth-century Dublin, these stories portray Irish middle-class life through a lens of paralysis and disillusionment. Joyce holds up a mirror to his countrymen, exploring themes of nationalism, Catholicism, and British rule. The collection progresses chronologically from childhood through public life, with characters experiencing moments of sudden self-understanding. Each story captures lives marked by stagnation, failed dreams, and the struggle for spiritual liberation in a city caught at history's crossroads.

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About the book

Dubliners is James Joyce’s 1914 collection of fifteen short stories portraying everyday life in Dublin—from childhood through adulthood and public life. The stories often culminate in an “epiphany,” when a character suddenly recognizes something uncomfortable about themselves or their circumstances. The best-known stories include “Araby,” “Eveline,” “A Little Cloud,” and especially “The Dead.”

About the author

James Joyce (1882–1941) was an influential Irish novelist, short-story writer and poet, widely regarded as one of the most important authors of the twentieth century. Born in Dublin, he drew heavily on the city’s people, streets and social life, even after spending much of his adulthood abroad. Joyce became known for his innovative language, experimental narrative techniques and profound exploration of memory, identity and everyday experience. His best-known works include Dubliners, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Ulysses and Finnegans Wake.

Chapters

1. DUBLINERS

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2. Contents

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3. THE SISTERS

A young boy learns that Father Flynn, an elderly priest and his former mentor, has died. Conversations after the death suggest that the priest had suffered a psychological or spiritual breakdown.

4. AN ENCOUNTER

Two boys skip school in search of adventure. Their outing becomes disturbing when they meet a strange older man whose conversation makes them uncomfortable.

5. ARABY

A boy becomes infatuated with his friend’s sister and promises to bring her something from the Araby bazaar. When he finally arrives, he recognizes the vanity and foolishness of his romantic fantasy.

6. EVELINE

A young woman plans to escape her difficult Dublin life by leaving with her lover, Frank. At the last moment, fear and obligation prevent her from boarding the ship.

7. AFTER THE RACE

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8. TWO GALLANTS

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9. THE BOARDING HOUSE

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10. A LITTLE CLOUD

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11. COUNTERPARTS

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12. CLAY

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13. A PAINFUL CASE

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14. IVY DAY IN THE COMMITTEE ROOM

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15. A MOTHER

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16. GRACE

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17. THE DEAD

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18. THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG™ LICENSE

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