Masterfully brings to life an entire people. An extremely grim and negative side of these people to be sure, but nonetheless accurate and unapologetically honest. Given the context of the times (The aftermath of the potato famine, the political turmoil that dominated daily Irish live throughout much of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, to say nothing of today) it is hardly surprising.

One failing I can see for Dubliners is that it's inextricably linked to the time it was written. Much as I love reading about Irish society and cultural heritage, I remember dropping it often to go read another Celtic myth. (Which probably says something about the power of mythology to transcend society and era but it might just be that I prefer reading tales of bloody heroes and gods and monsters and then somehow applying that to a modern context. I digress.)

Like the band* that chose their name as a tribute to the man's work was Joyce's ability to show the strength and resoluteness of the people who live in such a bleakly depressing city.

I first started to read The Dubliners sometime in college, over the course of a winter. I think that's a perfect time to read it, or perhaps the fall. The atmosphere is perfect, especially if you live in a city.





*The Dubliners