withanintroductionandnotesbydr.jacquelinebelanger,universityofcardiffaportraitoftheartistasayoungmanrepresentsthetransitionalstagebetweentherealismofjoycesdublinersandthesymbolismofulysses,andisessentialtotheunderstandingofthelaterwork.thenovelisahighlyautobiographicalaccountoftheadolescenceofstephendedalus,whoreappearsinulysses,andwhocomestorealizethatbeforehecanbecomeatrueartist,hemustridhimselfofthestultifyingeffectsofthereligion,politicsandessentialbigotryofhisbackgroundinlate19thcenturyireland.writtenwithalighttouch,thisisperhapsthemostaccessibleofjoycesworks.