Anderson, Chester G. James Joyce, London: Thames and Hudson, 1967.

An easy-to-read and comprehensive biography of Joyce, with many illustrations of Joyce, his family, friends, and Dublin.

Burgess, Anthony. Here Comes Everybody: An Introduction to James Joyce for the Ordinary Reader, London: Faber and Faber, 1965.

A helpful introduction to Joyce designed for those who, as Burgess says, have been scared off by the professors.

Garret, Peter K., editor. Twentieth Century Interpretations of "Dubliners," Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, Inc. 1968.

A good collection of informative, accessible essays useful for gaining a better understanding of Joyce and Dubliners.

Gifford, Don. Joyce Annotated, University of California Press, 1982.

A comprehensive annotation of Dubliners and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. This is a useful reference for understanding the cultural context of both works. Gifford has an introduction giving a history of Ireland, and the book explains many obscure allusions.