《都柏林(lin)人(ren)》(Dubliners)是詹姆斯·喬伊斯久(jiu)負(fu)盛名的短篇(pian)小說集,稱(cheng)得上20世紀整個(ge)西方最著(zhu)名的短篇(pian)小說集了(le)。1914年(nian)出版,置景于(yu)二三十年(nian)代的都柏林(lin),截取中下(xia)層人(ren)民生活的橫斷面,一(yi)個(ge)片(pian)刻一(yi)群人(ren),十五個(ge)故(gu)事匯集起來,宛若一(yi)幅(fu)印象主義的繪畫,筆觸(chu)簡練,錯落成篇(pian),浮現(xian)出蒼涼(liang)世態,遙遠、清冷,然而精致(zhi)。
這15篇故(gu)事,以寫實和(he)諷(feng)刺的表現手(shou)法描繪(hui)了(le)二(er)十世紀初(chu)期都柏林中下階層(ceng)的生活(huo),癱瘓和(he)死亡貫穿(chuan)全書。在同樣(yang)的底色(se)上,《一個青年藝(yi)術家(jia)的肖像(xiang)》集中描繪(hui)了(le)一個憂郁敏感、在濃郁的宗(zong)教氛圍中成長(chang)起(qi)來(lai)、具有(you)(you)藝(yi)術家(jia)氣質的青年形象。通過青年之(zhi)口(kou),喬伊(yi)斯表達(da)了(le)自己對宗(zong)教、藝(yi)術和(he)人(ren)生的觀點。后(hou)來(lai),這個青年繼(ji)續成長(chang),走進了(le)意(yi)識流宏(hong)篇《尤(you)利西(xi)斯》之(zhi)中。因此(ci),閱(yue)讀(du)(du)此(ci)書,將有(you)(you)助于(yu)閱(yue)讀(du)(du)《尤(you)利西(xi)斯》。
《都(dou)柏林(lin)人(ren)》中,不同篇目(mu)(mu)的內(nei)容(rong),似乎都(dou)可以用正數第二(er)篇小說的題(ti)目(mu)(mu)《一(yi)次(ci)遭遇》來概括:《阿拉比》,雜(za)貨市場的一(yi)次(ci)夜游;《兩(liang)個浪漢》,都(dou)柏林(lin)街道的一(yi)次(ci)夜游;《死者(zhe)》,一(yi)次(ci)宴會的前前后后……《都(dou)柏林(lin)人(ren)》的人(ren)物,形形色色,有逃學(xue)的男孩、死了親人(ren)的老處女、思(si)春的少女、狡詐的流浪漢等等,他們行走于都(dou)柏林(lin)這座城市,感謝微(wei)不足道的事情,與(yu)此同時,感到孤獨、蠢(chun)動或者(zhe)絕(jue)望。
《都柏(bo)林人》從(cong)1904年(nian)(nian)(nian)開始(shi)創作,曾被22家出(chu)(chu)(chu)版(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)社退(tui)稿,前后(hou)歷經9年(nian)(nian)(nian)挫折;1905年(nian)(nian)(nian),喬(qiao)伊斯與倫敦的(de)(de)(de)出(chu)(chu)(chu)版(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)商(shang)(shang)格蘭特·理(li)查茲簽(qian)下出(chu)(chu)(chu)版(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)合(he)同,但書(shu)(shu)商(shang)(shang)要求(qiu)(qiu)他(ta)刪除(chu)或修改某些段(duan)落,原因(yin)是(shi)(shi)排字(zi)工(gong)拒絕(jue)排印,喬(qiao)伊斯拒絕(jue),于是(shi)(shi)書(shu)(shu)商(shang)(shang)退(tui)還(huan)書(shu)(shu)稿。1909年(nian)(nian)(nian)他(ta)和都柏(bo)林的(de)(de)(de)出(chu)(chu)(chu)版(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)商(shang)(shang)芒賽爾兄弟簽(qian)定出(chu)(chu)(chu)版(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)合(he)同,但不久(jiu)又傳出(chu)(chu)(chu)修改的(de)(de)(de)要求(qiu)(qiu),這次喬(qiao)伊斯接(jie)受了出(chu)(chu)(chu)版(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)商(shang)(shang)的(de)(de)(de)所(suo)有條件,只求(qiu)(qiu)盡快付(fu)梓,但是(shi)(shi)到(dao)了出(chu)(chu)(chu)版(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)的(de)(de)(de)最后(hou)一(yi)刻,出(chu)(chu)(chu)版(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)商(shang)(shang)還(huan)是(shi)(shi)毀了版(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)。1914年(nian)(nian)(nian)在美國意象(xiang)派(pai)詩人龐德的(de)(de)(de)幫助與推薦(jian)下終于又由原來出(chu)(chu)(chu)版(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)商(shang)(shang)格蘭特·理(li)查茲將(jiang)書(shu)(shu)出(chu)(chu)(chu)版(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban),《都柏(bo)林人》半年(nian)(nian)(nian)內僅賣(mai)出(chu)(chu)(chu)六本、而(er)《一(yi)個青(qing)年(nian)(nian)(nian)藝術家的(de)(de)(de)畫像》一(yi)本都沒賣(mai)出(chu)(chu)(chu)。出(chu)(chu)(chu)版(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)后(hou)竟(jing)有民眾用焚書(shu)(shu)來表達其憤怒。
詹姆斯·喬(qiao)伊斯(JamesJoyce,1882-1941),愛爾蘭詩人(ren)、作(zuo)家。后現代主義文(wen)學的(de)開山鼻祖,其(qi)代表作(zuo)《尤利西(xi)斯》、《一個青年藝(yi)術家的(de)畫像》、《芬尼根的(de)守靈夜》和《都柏林人(ren)》在(zai)世界文(wen)學史上占(zhan)有舉足輕重(zhong)的(de)地位。前三部作(zuo)品(pin)均入選(xuan)蘭登書(shu)屋評(ping)選(xuan)的(de)“20世紀(ji)一百本優秀英(ying)文(wen)小說”。喬(qiao)伊斯一生顛沛(pei)流離(li),輾轉于歐洲各(ge)地,靠教授英(ying)語和寫作(zuo)糊口(kou),晚年飽(bao)受眼疾之痛,幾近失明。但他一生堅持(chi)文(wen)學創作(zuo),終(zhong)成一代巨匠。