The portrayal of Stephen Dedalus's Dublin childhood and youth, his quest for identity through art and his gradual emancipation from the claims of family, religion and Ireland itself, is also an oblique self-portrait of the young James Joyce and a universal testament to the artist's 'eternal imagination'.
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
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Joyce's depiction of the early Dublin life of Stephen Dedalus towers over modern literature, providing a stylistic blueprint and creative touchstone for artists young and old (Guardian )
It's damn well written (Ezra Pound )
There is nothing more vivid or beautiful in all Joyce's writing. It has the searing clarity of truth...but is rich with myth and symbol (Sunday Times )
James Joyce is my favourite novelist...Once I had read [this] I knew that I could never create anything that even came close to Joyce's magic (James Patterson Sunday Express ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
It's damn well written (Ezra Pound )
There is nothing more vivid or beautiful in all Joyce's writing. It has the searing clarity of truth...but is rich with myth and symbol (Sunday Times )
James Joyce is my favourite novelist...Once I had read [this] I knew that I could never create anything that even came close to Joyce's magic (James Patterson Sunday Express ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Book Description
A highly autobiographical tale of the growth of a young man's mind, and his striving for independence.
--This text refers to an alternate
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This book is considered by many to be more readable than Ulysses and Finnegans Wake but it still employs some of the same techniques as those found in the later, more challenging works. That is precisely why this recording is such a good introduction not just to this book but to the writing style of Joyce.
As with his other recordings of James Joyce books, Jim Norton--like Joyce a Dublin native--lifts the words off the page and brings to life the myriad characters in the novel while making sense of the stream-of-consciousness narrative.
If you are new to Joyce, start by viewing the 1977 film version. It is not a great movie, but is only 90 minutes and gives you a sense of what is happening. Next listen to this recording, and finally read the book. Just like that you will have learned a good deal indeed about this famous author that most find too intimidating to tackle.
After this you will also be ready to move on to Ulysses. I recommend following the same approach: view the film (set in year of production, 1967, but provides useful overview), then listen to Jim Norton's unabridged recording from Naxos and you will then be ready to read and enjoy--yes enjoy--the book.
As with his other recordings of James Joyce books, Jim Norton--like Joyce a Dublin native--lifts the words off the page and brings to life the myriad characters in the novel while making sense of the stream-of-consciousness narrative.
If you are new to Joyce, start by viewing the 1977 film version. It is not a great movie, but is only 90 minutes and gives you a sense of what is happening. Next listen to this recording, and finally read the book. Just like that you will have learned a good deal indeed about this famous author that most find too intimidating to tackle.
After this you will also be ready to move on to Ulysses. I recommend following the same approach: view the film (set in year of production, 1967, but provides useful overview), then listen to Jim Norton's unabridged recording from Naxos and you will then be ready to read and enjoy--yes enjoy--the book.
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
"Portrait of the Artist.." is perhaps one of the more accesable of James Joyces books, and also, for me one of the most enjoyable. The actual "story" of the book, is blataly autobiographical, concerning Stephen Dedalus/James Joyce's early life, at school - first encounters with women, and the enourmous inner conflict with Religion. The story is of little consequence really.. however, you've got to admire Joyce's honesty, if this truely is autobiographical. He has the irritating habit of trying to make Dedalus/Joyce seem somehow, superior, more intelligent than his peers, without actualy ever demonstrating this superiority at all. And, I'm afraid, I couldn't relate to the Religious conflict at all.. however it is an interesting insight. What does make this unique is the language, the "stream of conciousness" style, which at times, like at the end of the fourth chapter can be awesomely beautiful. It is this quality that makes Joyce worth reading. By his close observation and use of language he is sometimes able to completely transport the reader, intoxicate the reader. There is, however, an uneasy air which hangs over the works of James Joyce, and I can't quite put my finger on it...
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"A Portrait of The Artist as a Young Man" was published in 1914, Joyce's first novel. Though the hero's name is given as Stephen Dedalus, to a great extent he is Joyce, and this is autobiography, chronicling approximately the first 20 years of Joyce's life.
Joyce is famous for the difficulties of his prose, but this applies primarily to "Ulysses" and "Finnegan's Wake." "Portrait" is a relatively easy read. The opening page is perhaps the most unorthodox and difficult of the whole book, as it is an attempt to represent the consciousness of the infant Stephen. Following this is a long account of Stephen at boarding school, under the tuition of the Jesuits. Stephen is a timid, sensitive boy, ill-suited to the harsh regime of the brothers or the rough-and-tumble interaction of his schoolmates.
The main preoccupation of the book is the spiritual and sexual angst of the adolescent and post-adolescent Stephen. Though as a young boy he is religiously-inclined, the awakening of his sexual instincts leads to a prolonged internal struggle. Stephen frequently seeks the company of members of the prostitute class, and then indulges in much tortured self-recrimination.
As a previous reviewer mentioned, the sermon Stephen hears at a school retreat is incredibly powerful and vivid- detailing the infinity of horrors that await all transgressors from God's law. If churchmen really were able to speak so powerfully it is little wonder that Ireland fell so obsequiously under the Church's thumb. But Stephen openly rebels against the sexual and philosophical repression of the Church when he becomes a college student; he renounces all the ideals of his native society and avows "to forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race." In short, he becomes a poet.
For a first novel, "Portrait" is extremely self-important, as even the title reveals: Joyce is "The Artist," without irony. History would appear to have justified his opinion, however. In my opinion no one who intends to read "Ulysses" should do so without reading "Portrait" first. In fact, if you only intend to read one book by Joyce, I would recommend this one. It is not difficult, despite Joyce's reputation, and is a fascinating account of the coming of age of a poet, who is revealed as a young man of typical human frailties who, through pride, determination and a rejection of all surrounding influences, became the most influential, if not the most widely-read, author of the Twentieth Century.
Joyce is famous for the difficulties of his prose, but this applies primarily to "Ulysses" and "Finnegan's Wake." "Portrait" is a relatively easy read. The opening page is perhaps the most unorthodox and difficult of the whole book, as it is an attempt to represent the consciousness of the infant Stephen. Following this is a long account of Stephen at boarding school, under the tuition of the Jesuits. Stephen is a timid, sensitive boy, ill-suited to the harsh regime of the brothers or the rough-and-tumble interaction of his schoolmates.
The main preoccupation of the book is the spiritual and sexual angst of the adolescent and post-adolescent Stephen. Though as a young boy he is religiously-inclined, the awakening of his sexual instincts leads to a prolonged internal struggle. Stephen frequently seeks the company of members of the prostitute class, and then indulges in much tortured self-recrimination.
As a previous reviewer mentioned, the sermon Stephen hears at a school retreat is incredibly powerful and vivid- detailing the infinity of horrors that await all transgressors from God's law. If churchmen really were able to speak so powerfully it is little wonder that Ireland fell so obsequiously under the Church's thumb. But Stephen openly rebels against the sexual and philosophical repression of the Church when he becomes a college student; he renounces all the ideals of his native society and avows "to forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race." In short, he becomes a poet.
For a first novel, "Portrait" is extremely self-important, as even the title reveals: Joyce is "The Artist," without irony. History would appear to have justified his opinion, however. In my opinion no one who intends to read "Ulysses" should do so without reading "Portrait" first. In fact, if you only intend to read one book by Joyce, I would recommend this one. It is not difficult, despite Joyce's reputation, and is a fascinating account of the coming of age of a poet, who is revealed as a young man of typical human frailties who, through pride, determination and a rejection of all surrounding influences, became the most influential, if not the most widely-read, author of the Twentieth Century.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Joycean Perfection
The Christmas Dinner description is in my humble opinion the greatest piece of prose ever written in the English language. Absolutely enchanting.
Published 1 day ago by deramore
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not for me!
Whilst there are some wonderful cameo scenes, this novel is too wordy, too Catholic - just too Irish! Read more
Published 2 days ago by Krissy
2.0 out of 5 stars
Hard going
This is one of those books that needs lots of foot notes. If you enjoy reading a book like that where you have to keep referring to the notes every couple of sentences to help you... Read more
Published 19 days ago by misty
4.0 out of 5 stars
Unexpectedly Great
This was my first foray into Joyce and despite a concern that I would find him "difficult" to read it's been surprisingly fluid. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Leah
2.0 out of 5 stars
Hard to get along with.
I'd obviously heard of Joyce before reading this book, though I hadn't read any of his major works. I had high expectations though, and I was thoroughly disappointed. Read more
Published 25 days ago by Millie
5.0 out of 5 stars
the work of a genius
the defining novel on the artistic soul. it should be read by every student of life and the arts.and some of the greatest prose ever put to paper>
Published 1 month ago by margarets
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good
Came quickly and I enjoyed it, goes to show that human behaviour has not changed since it was written to now and well into the future.
Published 2 months ago by Jacinta Phillip
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great.
Everything I expected it to be. Masterpiece by Joyce, plus illustrated. Neatly preserved book. Best quality for the price, and the book arrived sooner than promised.
Published 6 months ago by Kintija
4.0 out of 5 stars
My first Joyce
This is my first foray into James Joyce and I loved it. The sermon was terrifying and reminded me of my own strict religious upbringing. Next stop Ulysses
Published 6 months ago by Mr. J. Pryor
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Welcome, O Life!"...
So concludes James Joyce, with the subject quote, in this Irish coming-of-age novel. I first read this novel a few decades ago, and felt it deserved a re-read, in particular, to... Read more
Published 9 months ago by John P. Jones III
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