Dubliners (1904-1907) By James Joyce

On several occasions I have attempted to read James Joyce’s classic Ulysses, considered one of the greatest literary works of the 20th century. Each time I’ve tried, I have given up long before page 100.  It has been just too dense, leaving me drowning in its stream of consciousness. But, sometime before I die, I intend to successfully read Ulysses. Reading Dubliners is a stepping-stone toward that goal.

Dubliners, is a collection of 15 short stories written by Joyce early in his career.  They were first published in 1914.  Colum McCann, who wrote the Foreword to the centennial edition of the book, acknowledges the difficulty of Joyce’s writing.  He refers to Dubliners as the “laboratory” used to begin Joyce’s body of work.  Many of the character studies in the stories, he says, will appear again in Ulysses.  So, my plan is to begin, at the beginning.

The short story selection includes some literary scenes that remain recognizable over 100 years later. 

For Chicago readers the story Ivy Day in the Committee Room should be particularly familiar.  It covers get-out-the-vote conversations between election workers.  The “committee room” is what we would call the ward offices of Chicago’s still powerful Irish-dominated Democratic Machine, home to such names as Daley, Madigan, Cullerton and Hines – Irish clans that span generations and continue to control much (all?) that goes on in Chicago, Cook County, and Illinois.  They didn’t write the book on elections, but they definitely read it, offered edits, and added chapters.

Another story, Eveline, is short and powerful.  It tells of a young woman who has been swept off her feet by a fast-talking young man.  She is about to run away to Argentina with him when she considers everything that makes her so willing to do so; which in the end are the same things that hold her in Dublin.  It is followed immediately by After the Race, a revealing story about class.

The collection ends with what was my favorite, despite its name: The Dead.  The story takes place the day and night of an annual dinner party.  In very many ways it reminds me of Virginia Wolfe’s book Mrs. Dalloway, which was written a generation later.  As the dinner party is coming to a close, one of the guests begins to sing a song The Lass of Aughrim that reminds a married woman of her first real love in life – someone who died before she ever met her husband. 

Next up on my James Joyce list:  The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.