James Joyce's first and most widely read novel,
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
is the noteworthy story of Stephen Dedalus, a young man struggling to decide between a religious vocation and an artistic one. As the story unfolds, we begin to witness Stephen's metaphoric change, from a confused, fraught young man to an individual who, through his trials, is given the chance to test his faith as a member of those who seek the truth. James Joyce's
, is also a teacher and a companion for those who desire a moment in the mind of one of Ireland's greatest novelists.