From the innocence of childhood in ‘The Sisters’ to the poignant paralysis of adulthood in ‘The Dead’, Joyce offers a hauntingly intimate portrait of a city and its soul. Each of the fifteen stories stands alone, yet together they form a cohesive exploration of identity, constraint, and the elusive nature of change. Written in a clear, unadorned style, Dubliners marked a radical departure from the romanticised Irish literature of its time, embracing instead a stark realism and psychological depth that would become hallmarks of Joyce’s work.
First published in 1914, Dubliners remains one of the most important short story collections in the English language, essential reading for lovers of modern fiction.