The best introduction to the world of James Joyce. With this autobiographically tinted coming-of-age story set in Dublin, James Joyce established himself in world literature. Thematically, this striking novel already contains much of what defines the famous Irishman: art, sex, religion, rebellion, and all the associated entanglements. A boy embarks on a quest for self-discovery. Initially still under the spell of conventions and authorities, he gradually uncovers his intellectual abilities, his ambivalent emotions, and his sexuality. The hurdles of his self-discovery are diverse, as he must emancipate himself from paternal figures as an aspiring artist. He also grapples with the puritanical role of the Catholic Church. Caught between morality and amorality, conformity and rebellion, he ultimately develops the courage to forge his own path.