Great reading that provides a sense of the city, from the Traveler online Ultimate Travel Library.
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Dubliners, by James Joyce (1914)
The quintessential Irish writer’s collection of 15 short stories written at the height of Irish nationalism and depicting Irish middle class life in the early 20th century. Many of the characters reappear in James Joyce’s novel Ulysses. Look for the specific Dublin geographical details embedded in each story.
Borstal Boy, by Brendan Behan (1958)
Discover Irish nationalist and playwright Brendan Behan by reading his breakthrough autobiographical book about growing up in Dublin as a member of the I.R.A. The title comes from the British word for juvenile jails. Young Behan was imprisoned at a borstal for his role in an attempted IRA mission.
Circle of Friends, by Maeve Binchy (1990)
Among modern writers, one of the best-loved is Dublin native Maeve Binchy who has an international following for her approachable fiction about life in Dublin’s suburbs. This novel, revolving around the life and loves of three young women who grow up in rural Ireland and attend college in Dublin, was made into a 1995 movie starring Chris O’Donnell and Minnie Driver.
The Ginger Man, by J. P. Donleavy (1955)
J.P. Donleavy’s first, and most famous, novel tells the tale of Sebastian Balfe Dangerfield, a drunken Irish-American ex-pat living in bohemian Dublin. The book, which was banned for 20 years, is listed at number 99 in Modern Library’s list of the 100 best 20th-century novels written in English.
The Commitments, by Roddy Doyle (1987)
One of Ireland’s best known writers is Roddy Doyle, and this comedic book about aspiring Dublin musicians became a top-grossing film in 1991. Both tell the story of a group of unemployed Dubliners void of any discernible musical talent who form a band with a uniquely “Dublin soul” sound.
