Dubliners

Written by James Joyce, Dubliner is a collection of fifteen short stories chronicling life in Ireland during the early 20th century. First published in 1914, these vivid stories create together several narratives of Irish middle class life in and around Dublin during a difficult time in Irish history. Each story follows a different Irish character that lived, struggled, and died during rising Irish nationalism and state discontent in the aftermath of their emerging national identity.

The stories initially start from a child’s point of view, and as they continue the characters get progressively older. Dubliner illustrates the clash of religion, ideology, and current affairs, as the Irish people fought for their independence and autonomy within the British Empire at the turn of the century.