Dubliners

Dubliners--------------------------------------------------I regret to see that my book has turned out un fiasco solenne' JamesJoyce's disillusion with the publication of Dubliners in 1914 was theresult of ten years battling with publishers, resisting their demandsto remove swear words, real place names and much else, including twoentire stories. Although only 24 when he signed his first publishingcontract for the book, Joyce already knew its worth: to alter it inany way would 'retard the course of civilisation in Ireland'. Joyce'saim was to tell the truth - to create a work of art that would reflectlife in Ireland at the turn of the last century and by rejecting euphemism,reveal to the Irish the unromantic reality the recognition of whichwould lead to the spiritual liberation of the country. Each of thefifteen stories offers a glimpse of the lives of ordinary Dubliners- a death, an encounter, an opportunity not taken, a memory rekindled- and collectively they paint a portrait of a nation.