James Joyce's Dubliners

by Harold Bloom

-- Presents the most important 20th-century criticism on major works from The Odyssey through modern literature
-- The critical essays reflect a variety of schools of criticism
-- Contains critical biographies, notes on the contributing critics, a chronology of the author's life, and an index

Genres: Classics, Fiction, School, Short Stories, British Literature

184 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Harold Bloom was an American literary critic and the Sterling Professor of Humanities at Yale University. In 2017, Bloom was called "probably the most famous literary critic in the English-speaking world." After publishing his first book in 1959, Bloom wrote more than 50 books, including over 40 books of literary criticism, several books discussing religion, and one novel. He edited hundreds of anthologies concerning numerous literary and philosophical figures for the Chelsea House publishing firm. Bloom's books have been translated into more than 40 languages. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1995.
Bloom was a defender of the traditional Western canon at a time when literature departments were focusing on what he derided as the "school of resentment" (multiculturalists, feminists, Marxists, and others). He was educated at Yale University, the University of Cambridge, and Cornell University.

Reviews

[Prooost Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I get older, I find myself less and less attracted to fiction, and my mind did wander as I read some of these stories. But I have to say that the final story, "The Dead," lives up to its reputation, and then some. It is one of the most moving stories I have ever read, and it seems to say everything there is to say in its sixty-four pages.

[Nandin-Erdene Enkhtuvshin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Үлиссийг уншихдаа өөрийгөө бэлдэж л уншсан бөлгөө :)

[Michelangelo Rubino · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be reviewed soon...

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal illuminations of Joyce's little book of epiphanies.

[Sophie Neilly · Rating 2 out of 5]

just don't fuck with Joyce like I used to.

[Cartyr · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate this man

[Mairi Byatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly stunning book so glad I left it till later!

[Anna Radzinski]

I cannot escape this book

[Rachel Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joyce's collection of short stories can be confusing at times but ultimately tells a significant, overarching story of the lives of several disadvantaged citizens living in 1800s Dublin, Ireland. No issue goes untouched here: Joyce drags the Catholic church, family dynamics, sex, alcoholism, violence, and marriage under his microscope and dissects them to the reader's delight and fascination. This book is not only a study of humanity in Dublin but a story of humanity in general; the tragedies and heroes in the daily lives of these Dubliners are familiar in all cultures and in all times. "Two Gallants", "Eveline", "The Boarding House", "A Painful Case", "Ivy Day in the Committee Room", and "The Dead" are, in my opinion, the best of the stories. Joyce's social commentary is strikingly original and eternally relevant.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many years ago I read the Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man, and I did not like it, so much so, that it has taken many years for me to reconsider Joyce and finally read more of his works. I am glad I read The Dubliners because I now have an inkling of understanding why he considered by many as one of the greatest literary geniuses. Although depressing, and maybe not a great book for the month of February, I found it to be a touching, depressing, thoughtful, provoking, angry, and even lovely. Maybe I will tackle more Joyce.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not without appreciation for the effect Joyce had on literature going forward from the early 1900's, and thank him for his efforts. For me, the fact is just plain and simply that Irish politics and what Ireland was going through in the early 2oth century just is not important and doesn't interest me in the least. So, I'm not completely spell bound by the great one. I did enjoy "The Dead" and a few of the other selections in the collection that focused on human frailties, but all in all this is only OK.

[Simon Davenport · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's so difficult to read this in the summertime. i'm going back over it again, and need to try it yet again in the winter. the Penguin edition has a really fantastic introduction and even better notes.

[Valarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A set of short stories that paints a haunting portrait of the city of Dublin, whose citizens James Joyce himself described as "paralyzed." As with all short story collections, some are excellent while others are sub-par.

[Lisa the Tech · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not finish reading this book; just because I did not realize it was not the stories, but commentaries on the stories. I think I want to try reading the stories first, but I would've felt bad to give this book a low rating based on the fact that I did not read the whole thing.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vignettes, early life in Dublin, people there. Interesting examples for wanna be writers on how to write excellent character descriptions. I understand that Joyce sweat bullets while writing this. For me, it would have been a better read for college writing courses.

[Tiia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Most boring book I've read for really long (if ever). Basically I forgot after few pages where the stories had started, I just couldn't keep my thoughts on it. I know this supposed to be classic, but for me it was just wasting my time. Joyce wasn't for me, but at least I did give it a go.

[Zeynep · Rating 4 out of 5]

since i can't seem to be able to read ulysees , this will have to do for now

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What exquisite writing!!

[Mark Nenadov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. I really like the writing style/imagery on the micro level. But only one or two of the stories were compelling to me on the macro/big picture level.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a good sampler of the subjects and writing style of Joyce. One might use it to decide if they are up to continuing along the path.

[Erin Markey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joyce is the man.

[Mo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really tough read, but was lucky to do it in CEGEP as part of a Modern Irish Stories english class. This helped muddle through some of the details.

[luminescence___ · Rating 3 out of 5]

la fierté des Dublinois.e.s, je le aime pitié

[Mrdarius Razgaitis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing prose. Very emotional and thought-provoking.