A Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man

“Irish intellectual life is deeply indebted to its literary culture…Joyce’s depiction is one of Ireland in the aftermath of the fall of Parnell. At the start of the 1890s, much of Ireland glimpsed the prospect of national unity based around Parnell himself, embodying a national project, whilst offering credible leadership. This, as the Portrait reflects, fell apart under the weight of sexual scandal and ensuing religious polarities. One can see all the characters participating in the Christmas dinner scene as representing different strands of contemporary Irish opinion.” Read more...

The best books on Modern Irish History

Richard Bourke, Historian

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is not only a great place to start on the books by Irish novelist James Joyce, it’s also recommended by historian Richard Bourke as a way of understanding modern Irish history. He says, “Joyce’s depiction is one of Ireland in the aftermath of the fall of Parnell. At the start of the 1890s, much of Ireland glimpsed the prospect of national unity based around Parnell himself, embodying a national project, whilst offering credible leadership. This, as the Portrait reflects, fell apart under the weight of sexual scandal and ensuing religious polarities.”

Historical Fiction Recommended by Historians

If you’re new to James Joyce, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man might be the best place to start. We highly recommend the audiobook. What better way to experience James Joyce’s first novel than hearing Colin Farrell, of In Bruges, dive into Joyce’s streams of consciousness with all the natural musicality of his Irish accent?

Great Actors Read Great Books