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Product Description
Product Description
This is one of the most significant literary works of the 20th century, and one of the most innovative. Young Irish Catholic, Stephen Dedalus, rejects religion and national ties to develop unfettered as an artist. Strongly 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.
From the Back Cover
Published in 1916, 'A Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man' follows the progress of Stephen Dedalus from infancy to early manhood. The richness of the language and Joyce's mastery of literary style as he describes the Dedalus family, young Stephen's education by the Jesuits, his sexual awakening, his intellectual development and his eventual revolt against the religion in which he has been raised have ensured the novel's place as one of the masterpieces of twentieth-century literature.
John Lynch has appeared in 'Cal, Railway Station Man' and 'Hardware.'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I also really struggled with this book. It's very static. The subject and content overall is very limited and thus the reader's imagination is not stretched.
Certainly no page-turner, this book took me weeks on end of bite-sized sittings. Strangely, nothing enthused me about the book - however, like other reviewers, I was attracted to the emotional grasp and wonderful choice/usage of language/words in this challenging piece of work. Very much a work of art, full of bland narrative hiding behind some beautiful strokes of genius.
The autobiographical work draws attention to a young man growing up in Ireland - highlighting his struggles with his peers, Catholicism and worldly desires that lie within. This is a truly reflective book of a great artist as a boy, adolescent and man. It is very personal and expressive. A clear metamorphosis can be seen from childhood through to adulthood - almost from a caterpillar developing into a butterfly with the freedom of flight.
The last pages of this book spoke to me in a very personal and upfront way - that within the 'darkness' of everday life, an individual should have a free, clear and expressive mind to make his or her ambitions in life and not be governed by others.
Hit-and-miss, not everyone's cup of camomile.
Certainly no page-turner, this book took me weeks on end of bite-sized sittings. Strangely, nothing enthused me about the book - however, like other reviewers, I was attracted to the emotional grasp and wonderful choice/usage of language/words in this challenging piece of work. Very much a work of art, full of bland narrative hiding behind some beautiful strokes of genius.
The autobiographical work draws attention to a young man growing up in Ireland - highlighting his struggles with his peers, Catholicism and worldly desires that lie within. This is a truly reflective book of a great artist as a boy, adolescent and man. It is very personal and expressive. A clear metamorphosis can be seen from childhood through to adulthood - almost from a caterpillar developing into a butterfly with the freedom of flight.
The last pages of this book spoke to me in a very personal and upfront way - that within the 'darkness' of everday life, an individual should have a free, clear and expressive mind to make his or her ambitions in life and not be governed by others.
Hit-and-miss, not everyone's cup of camomile.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
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...
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As with other reviewers here, I studied this book as part of my education. With it I fell in love with words, there are passages in this book that beautifully convey the art of writing, the importance and beauty of words and reading in a way no other book can. The story itself is striking, honest and it is a bildungsroman so those expecting a page thriller akin to a thriller will of course not find that with this book. What you will find is a true classic and I would recommend that it be read prior to Ulysses or Finnegan's Wake as this is as stated by a previous reviewer, the most accessible of Joyce's works and will in turn provide a form of key to reading the remainder of his works, with the protagonist making an appearance in Ulysses. This book is Joyce's Bildungsroman as much as Dedalus's, as it shows the development of the mind of this writer.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Portrait of the artist as a young man
Knowing nothing about the book except the author and title, I found it a good read and a window on life in Ireland at that time. Read more
Published 11 days ago by Mr. Kevin Keeley
A should have
Wordsworth Classics are great for people without a Kindle for free books. At prices like this I am able to keep up with the fashion for actually reading books we should have read... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mrs R Cook
Ambiguous feelings about this book
This book was difficult for me. Having just finished Ulysses I was tempted to have a go at more of Joyce. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jenny6
James Joyce Portrait of the Artist
A must for all fans of Joyce. An intellectual and emotional journey into the aspects of being brought up in a religion that is at odds with one's powers of reason and intellect.
Published 6 months ago by Penny
Disappointing
Joyce has a reputation for being difficult to read. Portrait, however, is quite accessible: we follow the early life and education of the central character, Stephen, who is dull... Read more
Published 8 months ago by jacr100
another classic that doesn't measure up
After having greatly enjoyed the Dubliners - a series of perceptive and beautifully written short stories about ordinary people - I looked forward to delving far deeper in Joyce. Read more
Published 9 months ago by rob crawford
Touching
When I read about the comment the Irish prime minister made on the catholic church a few days ago, this book came into my mind. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Matsyendra
The easy 'Ulysses'.
This book is superbly well written. The wonderful language foreshadows the linguistic brilliance of 'Ulysses' and is nearly as enjoyable. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Litlinglov
Too much religion for me.
James Joyce is a very good writer and much of this book is captivating, but it goes on a bit too much about religion for my liking and some of the intellectual conversation lost my... Read more
Published 11 months ago by S. Hyde
Dull.
This novel worked best for me as a religuous text -- not what I was after at all. At that, the writing is monotonous, relentless -- a cascade of boredom for the most part. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Stash
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