Two Gallants

James Joyce wrote the short story “Two Gallants” in 1906. He sent his initial draft to his editor, Grant Richards, for inclusion in his short story collection Dubliners. The narrative represents the 13th and last story that Joyce contributed to the collection. Several controversies, including the obscenity charges that critics leveled against “Two Gallants,” prevented Richards from publishing Dubliners until 1914.

Throughout his literary career, Joyce provided an unwavering critique of early-20th-century Ireland. While his critics claimed that his writings presented a shameful view of his nation, the author contended that his realism served an important social function. By revealing Ireland’s flaws, Joyce believed he would indirectly contribute to its reform. These themes can be viewed throughout Dubliners, as each story presents a realistic and bleak portrait of the nation’s contemporary society. In “Two Gallants,” Joyce identifies how the lives and experiences of two conmen reflect the social decline impacting late-19th-century Ireland. The story also presents the theme of Suspicion and Betrayal throughout its narrative.

This summary relies on the digital text edited by David Reed, Karol Pietrzak, and David Widger in the Project Guttenberg online collection. Reed, Pietrzak, and Widger compiled their digital version of Dubliners and “Two Gallants” using B.