Backgrounds for Joyce's Dubliners

First published in 1986. Dubliners was James Joyces first major publication. Setting it at the turn of the century, Joyce claims to hold up a nicely polished looking-glass to the native Irishman. In Backgrounds for Joyces Dubliners, the author examines the national, mythic, religious and legendary details, which Joyce builds up to capture a many-sided performance and timelessness in Irish life. Acknowledging the serious work done on Dubliners as a whole, in this study Professor Torchiana draws upon a wide range of published and unpublished sources to provide a scholarly and satisfying framework for Joyces world of the inept and the lower middle class. He combines an understanding of Joyces subtleties with a long-standing personal knowledge of Dublin. This title will make fascinating reading for scholars and students of Joyces writing as well as for those interested in early twentieth century Irish social history.