Although most of his adult life was spent abroad, Joyce's fictional universe centres on Dublin and is populated largely by characters who closely resemble family members, enemies and friends from his time there.
Selvom han levede det meste af sit voksenliv i udlandet, centreres Joyces fiktive universe på Dublin, og befolkes hovedsageligt af figurer, der er meget tæt modelleret efter familiemedlemmer, venner og fjender fra hans tid i byen.