Dubliners — James Joyce (1914)

Dubliners, James Joyce's 1914 collection of 15 stories, employs what he called 'scrupulous meanness'—precise, unadorned prose—to dissect the paralysis of Irish society with devastating accuracy. Each story averages about 4,000 words, with Joyce revising some drafts up to 20 times, ensuring a density of meaning that rewards repeated readings. The collection's realism, grounded in specific Dublin locations and historical details, creates a vivid portrait of a city at a turning point.