A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce is an iconic classic that I read and enjoyed this summer. It was special to read because the story is set in Europe, which is where I was, celebrating 30 years of marriage with my wife Stacey, when I read it.
Here is a quick summary of the book:
The semi-autobiographical novel traces the intellectual and spiritual awakening of young Irishman Stephen Dedalus. The novel chronicles Stephen’s growth from childhood to early adulthood as he grapples with issues of identity, faith, and artistic expression.
Set in late 19th- and early 20th-century Ireland, the story explores Stephen’s upbringing in a devoutly Catholic and politically turbulent society. Stephen struggles with his religious upbringing, eventually rejecting both the church and traditional societal expectations. He decides to embrace a life of artistic freedom, seeking to “forge in the smithy of [his] soul the uncreated conscience of [his] race.”