A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is James Joyce's groundbreaking debut novel and a cornerstone of modernist literature. First published in 1916, it follows the intellectual and spiritual awakening of Stephen Dedalus, a young man struggling to forge his identity amidst the religious, political, and cultural constraints of late 19th-century Ireland. With its innovative stream-of-consciousness narrative and lyrical prose, the novel traces Stephen’s evolution from obedient schoolboy to independent artist.
Bold in form and theme, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man marked a radical departure from traditional storytelling and laid the foundation for Joyce’s later masterpieces, including Ulysses. It remains essential reading for anyone interested in the development of modern fiction and the inner workings of artistic consciousness.
This Edition
Dimensions
Book: 8 7/8" x 5 7/8"
Slipcase: 9 1/4" x 6 1/8"
Binding & Cover
Full bound in heavy woven cotton book cloth
Construction
Hand-sewn with brown book thread
Endpapers made from unique handmade Lokta paper, sewn to the text block for extra strength
Slipcase
Made from thick book board, covered in Allure Cranberry book cloth
Features a centered copper-foiled triskelion (Celtic Spiral Knot), symbolizing growth, rebirth, and the divine
Spine tag printed on white felt paper
Printing & Paper
Printed offset on white felt paper
The Artist
Inside, you will find 10 illustrations by Dublin-born artist Joseph Malachy Kavanagh, whose life coincided with that of James Joyce. Kavanagh was well known for his oil paintings and etchings, which capture coastal landscapes, riverside scenes, and other aspects of rural life in Ireland, France, and Belgium.
