Living overseas but writing always about his native city Joyce made Dublin unforgettable. The stories in Dubliners show us truants seducers gossips rally-drivers generous hostesses corrupt politicians failing priests amateur theologians struggling musicians moony adolescents victims of domestic brutishness sentimental aunts & poets patriots earnest or cynical & people striving to get by. In every sense an international figure Joyce was faithful to his own country by seeing it unflinchingly & challenging every precedent & piety in Irish literature.