Product Description

One of the most significant literary works of the twentieth century, and one of the most innovative. Young Irish Catholic, Stephen Dedalus, rejects religion and national ties to develop unfettered as an artist. Stronly autobiographical, the novel is one of the founding texts of Modernism and the precursor of Ulysses. Its originality shocked contemporary readers on its publication in 1916 who found its treating of the minutiae of daily life indecorous, and its central character
unappealing. Was it art or was it filth?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #165634 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Customer Reviews

Two Provocative Chapters
I read this through college over 20 years ago and still 2 chapters in particular remain with me. They involve a sermon delivered to the boys at school with the intent on explaining the consequences of ill deeds or other "sins". The first of these chapters describes Hell and its horrors leaving the reader truly fearful of even the possibility. With this in mind, the second chapter asks how long do you think people are in Hell, leaving us to consider the reality of eternity. The writing is descriptive and emotive. I'm not any way pious but I remember being so moved I would've rushed out to confess all my wrong doings to the nearest priest just in case any of it was true...

My favourite book of all time
One trait I admire in Joyce above all others is the honesty of his writing. His 'portrait' is almost a quasi-autobiography, and I find his willingness to put himself under the microscope for everyone to see very brave, especially when he talks about his family, sexuality, religion and country. 'A Portrait of the Artist' is partly about the author's emancipation from these constraints, and anyone who has felt weighed down by their environment can find a resonance in this book.

personal development and growth of Stephen Dedalus
"A Portrait of The Artist As a young man" retraces Stephen Dedalus'experiences of life from his early childhood. The author does not restrain himself to one tone but uses different ones, as a way of convaying the chracter's ever changing selves.The language Joyce uses varies as the character pass throught different stages of his personal developement. For instance, a simple baby-talk language is used to describe moments of his early childhood. "A Portrait of the Artist" belongs to a genre defined as bildungsromane. Particular attention is given the character stuggle to find him self, his place in a changing society where new doors were opened and the past, remembered only as an illusion.