Often hailed as the finest short story ever written in the English language, James Joyce’s “The Dead” tells the story of a young woman who hears a familiar song unexpectedly at a Christmas party. The melody brings memories of a long-dead lover flooding back to her. Joyce’s description of the multilayered situation, characters, and atmosphere are unsurpassed. The reader is drawn into the stifling world of Dublin society with its aspirations, pretensions, repressive morals, and furtively enjoyed freedoms. Beautiful and evocative.
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"The Dead is the only short story (practically a novella) I've read that reduced me to tears, and it still has the power to do it (as does the brilliant John Huston film adaptation). The last few pages are amongst the most moving I've ever read, and it makes the story more powerful when you re-read it. I've still not got round to Ulysses or (gulp) Finnegans Wake, but this is an incredible piece of writing."
— Adam (5 out of 5 stars)
" "His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead." "
— stew, 2/19/2014" Quite simply the best short story ever written. "
— Jake, 2/17/2014" "Why is it that words like these seem to me so dull and cold? Is it because there is no word tender enough to be your name?" "
— Proustitute, 2/12/2014" Beautiful and depressing. The quintessential Joyce, in other words. "
— Katie, 2/10/2014" Goodness gracious, I am lost for words. A must read. "
— Ignas, 2/8/2014" The first time I've read Joyce outside of the classroom. Read it online at Bibliomania. Just beautiful and heartbreaking. I feel like there might have been more to say, but it just sort of ends. In a way, I'm glad, because of just how intense and heartbreaking it is, but I also feel like maybe there is more to say. I will definitely be reading more by him. "
— Nathan, 2/4/2014" It was a bit too descriptive in some places, but the story itself was thoughtfully done. I love the character of Gabriel because he's such a clueless man. The poetic ending is beautifully done. "
— Merrideth, 2/4/2014" Beautiful and depressing. The quintessential Joyce, in other words. "
— Katie, 2/1/2014" james joyce just doesn't seem to do it for me; doesn't capture my interest; a well written story, of course; but i just don't seem to care. "
— Maggie, 2/1/2014" My favorite work by Joyce. "
— Colleen, 1/26/2014" I just don't enjoy Joyce much. I didn't ten years ago when I couldn't make it through Ulysses, or five years ago when the significance of the Portrait was lost on me, and again today when I thought that maybe a short story of his would suit me better and so read The Dead. I'm very aware its been called a True Masterpiece, and the best short story ever written, but I didn't LOVE it that much and the Epiphany Style of his didn't make it any better for me. I shed no tears, I made no plans to re-read it every New Year, but I will read it again because there were beautiful sentences and turns of phrase as well as very clever character illustration. As for being the best ever however, I guess it's just not my cup of tea. P.S. I heard you all GASP in horror just then! "
— Emma, 1/21/2014" It becomes more beautiful each time I read it. "
— Shane, 1/19/2014" I really didn't like it much til the final few pages. That was lovely and could've been a short story all on it's own. "
— Beverly, 1/15/2014" No story I've read used sensory experiences to build up to what happens in the mind as well as this one. "
— Winonah, 1/9/2014" This is a short story by Joyce and worth the 2 hours it took me to read it. I'm sure most of you had to read it in school (which is why I am reading it now.) "
— Talai, 1/8/2014" I do not accept this story. I am sorry. English professors can love it all they want and I will still be horrifyingly disappointed each time I read it. P.S. The symbolism is lame, not intriguing, Dr. Shigley. "
— Karen, 1/4/2014" Just listened to an audio book. Reader had an Irish accent. Haven't read Joyce before. Still not sure what I think. Found it interesting, if not entertaining. "
— Ange, 12/31/2013" This beautifully packaged series of classic novellas includes the works of Anton Chekhov, Colette, Henry James, Herman Melville, and Leo Tolstoy. These collectible editions are the first single-volume publications of these classic tales, offering a closer look at this underappreciated literary form and providing a fresh take on the world's most celebrated authors. "
— Melville, 12/31/2013" The ending The Dead is some of the best prose writing ever put to paper. Absolutely amazing. "
— Ben, 12/24/2013" What happens when a story lives up to its reputation? You know it's a classic. Something about the discourse of snow just makes me ache---and it's Joyce, after all. "
— Sarah, 12/23/2013" Long is the time for some bruises to heal,and may be they never will. "
— Sahar, 12/22/2013" If you give this under 3 stars, you should just die, honestly. Fuck opinions, this is genius, plain and simple "
— Jeff, 12/6/2013" This is not something I enjoyed, despite the good press. I could not get into the writing. "
— David, 12/4/2013" Read it. They writing style is one you'll remember a long, long time. "
— Tonia, 12/3/2013" I read this last summer while in Italy. It was a cool afternoon and the light was just right. I finished it, set it down, thought about it for about fifteen minutes and picked it right back up again. One of the best works of fiction out there. "
— David, 11/28/2013" Quick read, interesting, a bit depressing. "
— Zuly, 11/27/2013" This is a beautiful elegant short story if Christmas; a time and a place gone. One of his best "
— Robert, 11/26/2013" If you are going to read only one James Joyce novel, this is the one. It's more accessible than "Ulysses" or even "Portrait of the Artist as Young Man". "
— Theresa, 11/18/2013" Without a doubt, the best fucking short story I've ever read. It starts slow, with some boring party, and just builds and builds until it breaks your heart and heals it at the same time. READ IT! "
— Kat, 11/15/2013" Lovely story - atmospheric, nostalgic, quietly emotional. "
— Peter, 11/11/2013" james joyce just doesn't seem to do it for me; doesn't capture my interest; a well written story, of course; but i just don't seem to care. "
— Maggie, 10/20/2013" 'One by one, they were all becoming shades. Better pass boldly into that other world, in the full glory of some passion, than fade and wither dismally with age.' "
— Bonnie, 10/20/2013" Goodness gracious, I am lost for words. A must read. "
— Ignas, 10/13/2013" the end is worth five stars. "
— Andrew, 10/6/2013" Perhaps the most beautiful ending to a story I've ever read. "
— Matthew, 9/12/2013" This novella is supposedly a masterpiece of shorter fiction. There is almost no action, everything is based on subtext and the character relations. It's pretty boring and a bit depressing near the end, but not so depressing that it ruins your day. Just sort of, 'meh'. Not sure what the big deal is. "
— Alex, 8/14/2013" This is a beautiful elegant short story if Christmas; a time and a place gone. One of his best "
— Robert, 7/24/2013" A wonderful short story that describes various relationships and interactions during a party. Joyce's voice and clean prose illustrate such a powerful and deep setting that creates the story and the characters. "
— Gabriel, 7/15/2013" It was a bit too descriptive in some places, but the story itself was thoughtfully done. I love the character of Gabriel because he's such a clueless man. The poetic ending is beautifully done. "
— Merrideth, 7/9/2013" Read junior year AP English, kinda forgot about it "
— Maddie, 7/5/2013" No story I've read used sensory experiences to build up to what happens in the mind as well as this one. "
— Winonah, 6/25/2013" Very slow throughout in character development and flow, but the end makes it all count. "
— Maria, 4/21/2013" A novella that actually made sense to the common reader. Some truly great thoughts that linger after surprise "epiphany" ending. "
— Mary, 4/11/2013" Snowfall and heart break. A theme to which I am accustomed. Great short by, in my opinion, one of the last centuries best. "
— Bryant, 4/6/2013" Gorgeous writing and a wonderful example of how something simple, told with honest and extremely specific detail, can rattle the soul. "
— Laura, 3/31/2013" This is not something I enjoyed, despite the good press. I could not get into the writing. "
— David, 3/2/2013" this is one of my favorite short stories...lovely lovely "
— Linds, 2/27/2013" The ending The Dead is some of the best prose writing ever put to paper. Absolutely amazing. "
— Ben, 2/17/2013" Really, *the* perfect short story. "
— Jon, 2/17/2013" I really didn't like it much til the final few pages. That was lovely and could've been a short story all on it's own. "
— Beverly, 1/22/2013" I don't think I really "got" this one, but I enjoyed it. "
— Caitlyn, 1/11/2013" Review upcoming. For now: read this today to celebrate Bloomsday but did not experience it as the best short fiction piece at all "
— Emma, 10/21/2012" Beautiful and depressing. The quintessential Joyce, in other words. "
— Katie, 9/29/2012" "His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead." "
— William, 5/17/2012" I read James Joyce's The Dead every month, or at least every other month. It's great. "
— Stephen, 4/9/2012" Absolutely amazing. I never thought I would like James Joyce, but I studied The Dead in an undergrad class for an entire quarter, and I am blown away by it every time I read it. It's worth it for the characters, the sadness, and especially, the last few pages. "
— Heather, 3/2/2012" I'd like to know what this story is really about. "
— Kristina, 2/29/2012" Intensely psychological and shockingly emotionally real-feeling. Horribly sad in that dull, caged-in feeling of real life, rather than overblown fictional tragedy. A short read, but, at least for me, a difficult one. "
— Miriam, 2/23/2012" "His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead." "
— stew, 2/18/2012" Favourite story from James Joyce's 'Dubliners'. "
— Aziz, 1/8/2012" Read this for class. I wasn't sure where it was going for a long time, but I did like the end. "
— Denya, 1/3/2012" Long is the time for some bruises to heal,and may be they never will. "
— Sahar, 10/14/2011" good descriptions of setting, characters were pretty flat "
— Ryan, 10/12/2011" Great stuff!! Such accurate portrayal of outer life and suppressed inner turmoil... "
— Jim, 9/7/2011" No story I've read used sensory experiences to build up to what happens in the mind as well as this one. "
— Winonah, 8/28/2011" Read it. They writing style is one you'll remember a long, long time. "
— Tonia, 7/6/2011" An absolute masterwork by one of the greatest artists in prose. Don't stop here. Read Dubliners at least. "
— James, 6/29/2011" Long is the time for some bruises to heal,and may be they never will. "
— Sahar, 6/28/2011" Reading this was like reading something that I could have understood if I had been alive in or just after while Joyce was alive. "
— Ori, 5/13/2011" Joyce's simple stories keep one gripped. Wonderful collection and a great introduction to Joyce. "
— Deepti, 5/13/2011" Reading this was like reading something that I could have understood if I had been alive in or just after while Joyce was alive. "
— Ori, 5/13/2011" Joyce's simple stories keep one gripped. Wonderful collection and a great introduction to Joyce. "
— Deepti, 5/13/2011" This is collection of short stories, which I've found more tolerable to read than other Joyce works. Still, all places, emotions and names of the characters are repetitive. Not to mention how sad, unhappy and frustrated are all people in those stories. It's rather depressing. Good for one read. "
— patrycja, 5/12/2011" Kisah-kisah 'dear dirty Dublin' yang santai dan tenang. "
— Ridhwan, 5/12/2011" Needless to say, I am very biased when it comes to books set in Ireland, and in particular in Dublin... but Joyce is Joyce and a brilliant author who deserves to be in the top 3 of Ireland's best authors ever! "
— Willeke, 5/12/2011" This is collection of short stories, which I've found more tolerable to read than other Joyce works. Still, all places, emotions and names of the characters are repetitive. Not to mention how sad, unhappy and frustrated are all people in those stories. It's rather depressing. Good for one read. "
— patrycja, 5/12/2011" Kisah-kisah 'dear dirty Dublin' yang santai dan tenang. "
— Ridhwan, 5/12/2011" Needless to say, I am very biased when it comes to books set in Ireland, and in particular in Dublin... but Joyce is Joyce and a brilliant author who deserves to be in the top 3 of Ireland's best authors ever! "
— Willeke, 5/12/2011" These short stories are off the hook! "
— Adil, 5/8/2011" These short stories are off the hook! "
— Adil, 5/8/2011" Great collection of stories, all of them were good--Eveline and The Dead were absolutely amazing "
— Jordan, 5/6/2011" Great collection of stories, all of them were good--Eveline and The Dead were absolutely amazing "
— Jordan, 5/6/2011" Joyce's writing is so good, but this honestly could have been about five stories less. I look forward to reading his novels in the near future. "
— Brett, 4/30/2011" Joyce's writing is so good, but this honestly could have been about five stories less. I look forward to reading his novels in the near future. "
— Brett, 4/30/2011" the ways in which both the social interactions of daily life are portrayed as well as the human psyche of the participants were both excellent and original. The stories themselves were sometimes a bit dry for my taste, but the imagery was brilliant. "
— Sean, 4/29/2011" the ways in which both the social interactions of daily life are portrayed as well as the human psyche of the participants were both excellent and original. The stories themselves were sometimes a bit dry for my taste, but the imagery was brilliant. "
— Sean, 4/29/2011" nice short stories about dubliners. as you might guess. like the public house scenes, and the lack of reliance on plot. "
— samuel, 4/23/2011" nice short stories about dubliners. as you might guess. like the public house scenes, and the lack of reliance on plot. "
— samuel, 4/23/2011" The Dead, The Sisters and Araby are great! The rest are so-so. "
— Gretchen, 4/21/2011" The Dead, The Sisters and Araby are great! The rest are so-so. "
— Gretchen, 4/21/2011" Although there are no plots to speak of, the characters are clearly described. Joyce is able to transport you to that time and place through dialogue and description. <br/> <br/> "
— Wendy, 4/18/2011" Although there are no plots to speak of, the characters are clearly described. Joyce is able to transport you to that time and place through dialogue and description. <br/> <br/> "
— Wendy, 4/18/2011James Joyce (1882–1941) was an Irish expatriate writer, widely considered to be one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century. He is best known for his landmark novel Ulysses and its highly controversial successor Finnegans Wake, as well as the short-story collection Dubliners and the semi-autobiographical novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.
Cathy Dobson is the author of Planet Germany and a narrator of audiobooks.