James Joyce (1882-1941)

James Joyce was born in Rathgar, Dublin in 1882. He is arguably Ireland's most famous writer. His schooling was a mixture of time spent in Clongowes Wood College, Belvedere College and University College Dublin. In 1904 he left Ireland and settled in Trieste, in France. He then moved to Paris (1920) and later, Zurich. After a short visit to Dublin in 1912, he never returned to Ireland again.

Despite having spent most of his life away from Dublin, Joyce's writing is evidence of his fascination with the city and Irish culture, society and politics. His first book, Dubliners, is a collection of short stories, published in 1914, describing life in the city. His first novel, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, offers great insight into his home life, religious education and illustrates the beginnings of his love/hate relationship with his native city and country. This almost paradoxical relationship with Ireland was further reinforced in his only play, Exiles, published in 1918. It is an almost autobiographical account of why he will never return to Ireland, his general feeling of rejection and betrayal by his native land. The banning of Ulysses, Joyce's most famous work, in 1922, only compounded his feelings toward Ireland. It remained banned until the 1960s, after Joyce's death.

Ulysses was the book that ensured Joyce his place at the fore of English Pros. It is internationally championed as being one of the best novels ever written. Each year tourists from all over the world visit Dublin, to see the places and backdrop to Joyce's work. There are a number of heritage sites and events around the city. The James Joyce Tower, located in a Mortello tower in Dun Laoghaire, is a museum dedicated to Joyce - he lived here briefly in 1904 and the first chapter of Ulysses in set in this building. Each year Bloomsday (16th June) is celebrated in Dublin (and in more than 60 countries worldwide), it is a celebration of his life and works, with many events, readings and walking tours held around the city. The James Joyce Centre on North Great George's Street and the Irish Writer's Museum on Parnell Square, both house manuscripts, accounts, artefacts and information relating to this great literary figure.