The Dead is a short story by the famous Irish writer James Joyce (1882-1941). It is the final story and the longest story in a collection of fifteen short stories named Dubliners which was first published in 1914.
The stories in this collection were written several years before 1914. The manuscript was submitted for publication several times, but each time there was a problem:
When the manuscript was accepted by a publisher, it was rejected by the printer who was afraid he was going to be punished because of the contents in some of the short stories in the collection.
Having tried for several years to find a publisher and a printer who were prepared to say yes, he was finally successful in 1914.
When was the short story written? In 1907. When is the story set? On 06 January 1904. This is an important date in Ireland.
It is known as the Women's Little Christmas. It marks the end of the Christmas season. On that day, the traditional roles of the family are reversed: the men are supposed to take care of the house and the dinner, while the women can relax and enjoy the meal.
Where does the story take place?
In a house in Dublin.
The address is 15 Usher's Island.
This house is still standing today.
Why did Joyce choose this location for his story? Because he had a special connection to this place. His grand-aunts lived there in the 1890s.
Since 1914, the short story The Dead has been published as a separate book more than once. According to Google Books, the first time was in 1993.
□■□■
After World War Two, the short story was transformed into a movie which premiered in 1987.
It was directed by the famous director John Huston (1906-1987). The script was written by his son Tony Huston, while his daughter Anjelica Huston played one of the characters in the movie. It seems fair to describe it as a family affair.
What do reviewers say about this movie?
Here are some answers:
** 72 percent = IMDb
** 76 percent = Rotten Tomatoes (the audience)
** 94 percent = Rotten Tomatoes (the critics)
□■□■
James Joyce: A Shout in the Street is a documentary film which premiered in 2017. The topic of this film is the life and work of the famous Irish writer with special focus on the short story The Dead.
Here is some basic information about this film:
** Director = Kieron J. Walsh
** Writer and producer = David Blake Knox
** Host and presenter = Anjelica Huston
** Run time = 58 minutes
The Dead
A short story by James Joyce
(2017 = paperback)
(2022 = hardcover)
The house on 15 Usher's Island in Dublin where the short story The Dead takes place
The famous Irish writer
James Joyce
(1882-1941)
REFERENCES
The following items are available online:
Anjelica Houston on James Joyce
Preserving James Joyce’s House of the Dead is important for our cultural heritage
*****
A Shout in the Street:
Anjelica Huston on James Joyce
A documentary film
(2017)
*****
No comments:
Post a Comment