"A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" represent the transitional stage between the realism of Joyce`s "Dubliners" and the symbolism of "Ulysses", and is essential to the understanding of the later work.
The novel is a highly autobiographical account of the adolescence and youth of Stephen Dedalus, who reappears in "Ulysses", and who comes to realize that before he can become a true artist, he must rid himself of the stultifying effects of the religion, politics and essential bigotry of his background in late 19th century Ireland.
Written with a light touch, this is perhaps the most accessible of Joyce`s works.