A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

De: James Joyce

Narrado por: John Lee

Perhaps James Joyce's most personal work, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man depicts the intellectual awakening of one of literature's most memorable young heroes, Stephen Dedalus.

Through a series of brilliant epiphanies that parallel the development of his own aesthetic consciousness, Joyce evokes Stephen's youth, from his impressionable years as the youngest student at the Clongowed Wood school to the deep religious conflict he experiences at a day school in Dublin, and finally to his college studies, where he challenges the conventions of his upbringing and his understanding of faith and intellectual freedom.

Joyce's highly autobiographical novel was first published in the United States in 1916 to immediate acclaim. Ezra Pound accurately predicted that Joyce's book would "remain a permanent part of English literature", while H. G. Wells dubbed it "by far the most important living and convincing picture that exists of an Irish Catholic upbringing".

©1923 Public Domain (P)2008 Tantor

Brilliantly Performed!

I enjoy a good classic mixed in with my usual modern fiction now and then. John Lee, the narrator, doesn't disappoint in delivering this incredible work with style, perfect timing and voice characteristics.

While a classic is just that for a reason, it doesn't always make it palatable for today's consumer. This narrator delivers a stunning version that is more than palatable; it's a feast!

Very Well Done

Any additional comments?

This is one of those stories that is extremely well written yet not really about much, as least not much occurred in the story. Never the less I enjoyed the writing very much and the thoughts of this artist that I assume was living in Ireland during the turn of the last century are quite profound. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a sort beautiful book to read.

A Modernist Monster Maul, a Literary 'Godevil'

Joyce is otherworldly. It is hard to even judge his early stuff against itself. He seems to have been born a master of language and art. Most authors would be happy to end their careers with 'Dubliners' and 'Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.' For Joyce, these are just the beginning of his journey. This novel, more than any other, is a modernist monster maul, a literary 'godevil' that splits all readers. IT is impossible to interact with Joyce and not love him or hate him. Anyway, I loved Portrait of an Artist. I loved it all.

FALLEN CATHOLIC

Joyce gives us a picture of Catholic Ireland in the early 20th century.Joyce describes an Irish Catholic family; i.e. riven with Catholic guilt and ambivalent about God and Ireland’s place in the Gaelic world. Joyce’s main character, Stephen Dedalus, is born into an upper middle class Irish family that falls on hard times. Dedalus graduates from a Jesuit school and moves on to college but his life steers away from God and Ireland in his journey to manhood.

The fragility of the Catholic Church and organized religion is evident in James Joyce’s “…Portrait…” The character of Stephen Dedalus is portrayed as a top of his class student that is coveted by the Church hierarchy to become a Jesuit priest. The strength and allure of the Church is clearly evident in Joyce’s description of the Catholic Priesthood’s power to attract the best and the brightest of its brethren. However, Dedalus, after a day contemplating the Church’s offer, chooses to pursue a secular life.

At best, one sees Stephen Dedalus as a burgeoning Humanist; at worst, a hedonist life traveler. A great tale; well told by John Lee.

Good, but a little rushed

This is a good (not great) reading of a great book. I normally enjoy John Lee a great deal, but I see two problems here. First, the narrator's Irish accent is a little heavy-handed: more obviously "Irish" than that of other narrators of the book. (John Lee may be as Irish as Donal Donnelly for all I know; but I'm pretty sure "Howth" does NOT rhyme with "mouth." My conclusion, which I admit may be wrong, is that he's trying just a little too hard.) Second, much of it seems rushed. There's a crucial scene at the end of Chapter 3 when Stephen Dedalus visits a priest and makes confession. The priest is sorrowful, bemused, maybe a little jaded as he listens to Stephen's account of his well-developed erotic life; but Lee romps through the confessional dialogue with the same speed and energy he uses for the boyhood conversations on the football field.

Clearly there's soemthing subjective about this. I see from the other listings that the recording is about the same length as Jim Norton's; I would have said it was at least an hour shorter if not more. So I may not be articulating the real problem. I enjoyed it; it's certainly never dull; but I can't quite give it five stars.