Biography

The first known work of James Joyce is an elegy, called "Et tu, Healy" written for Charles Stewart Parnell. Joyce's father, a firm Parnellite, had the poem printed; however no copies survive. This is the only noted writing exercise that Joyce pursued at a young age.

During young adulthood, Joyce attended school at University College (a Jesuit Institution). Here he was beginning to turn away from Catholicism and Irish National Politics. He would grow more detached from his homeland. While at University College, Joyce wrote a play, called A Brilliant Career, which he later destroyed. He also wrote essays, several of which are published.

In 1903, Joyce began writing primarily poems - later to be included in the 1907 publication Chamber Music. He was forced to leave Paris to go back because his mother was dying of cancer. Mary Joyce died on August thirteenth.

In 1904, Joyce wrote the essay-narrative "A Portrait of the Artist", but it is rejected for publication. However, Joyce did manage to get a few stories and several poems published, which would eventually appear in Dubliners. Soon after, Joyce met his future wife in Ireland. Later, they would eventually leave for the main European continent, and they would never return.

One year later, in 1905, Joyce submitted the manuscript of Chamber Music and Dubliners to a publisher in Dublin, Grant Richards. Chamber Music would be published in 1907 in London - not by Grant Richards. Dubliners would have a more difficult time being published. Joyce finished "The Dead", which would be the last of the stories published in Dubliners in 1907. Publication of it was slow, because of 'offensive references' to Edward VII. A printer in Dublin also destroyed the manuscript, because he believed that it was anti-Irish. Joyce eventually gave Dubliners to Grant Richards, who would eventually publish it.

In 1914, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man was published by the London magazine The Egoist. There was not as much trouble when Joyce tried to publish this work. Ezra Pound, who had a lot of contacts, wrote Joyce and asked to see some of his work for possible publication. Joyce sent him the poem, and he took care of the rest. Later, in 1916, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man would be publshed in book form in the United States - in New York. Soon after this, Joyce began working on Ulysses. It would be completed in 1921. Soon after, on February 2, it would be published in Paris.

In 1923, James Joyce began working on Finnegan's Wake, which was known as Work in Progress until its publication. The next year, parts of Work would appeat in Transatlantic Review, a popular magazine in Paris.

In 1932, Joyce wrote the poem "Ecce Puer", which celebrated the birth of his grandson. Later this year, Bennet Cerf, who worked for Random House, contracted for the official American publication of Ulysses. The next year, Ulysses would be allowed into the United States by rule of Judge Woolsey. Random House officially published in 1934.

The last major work of James Joyce's to be published would be Finnegan's Wake, which would be published in 1939 in both London and New York. Finally in 1940, Joyce would be able to manage to get back to Zurich. He would die the following year, in Zurich on January 13, 1941.

James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was born in Dublin, Ireland on February 2, 1882. His parents, John Sanislaus Joyce and Mary Jane Murray Joyce, had a total of ten living children, of which James was the oldest. At the age of twenty-one, James's mother died. In 1904, James met his future wife, Nora Barnacle. One year later, they have their son, Giorgio. Lucia Anna, their first daughter, was born two years after Giorgio. The year 1930 was and eventful year for Joyce. He finally married the woman he loved, but at the same time his father died. Joyce became a grandfather in 1932 when Stephen James Joyce was born to Giorgio and Helen Joyce. In 1940, everything would come to an end when he suffered a perforated ulcer and died at the age of 58. Eleven years later, Nora Barnacle dies.

James Joyce's education began at the early age of six and a half years at Clongowes Wood College. He studied here for three years until 1891. In 1893, he then entered Belvedere College, which he attended for five years until 1898. Then came University College in Dublin, Ireland. All three colleges were run by Jesuits.

At Clongowes Wood College, James Joyce studied with thirty-seven other kids from all four corners of Ireland. Many of the thirty-seven kids who attended with him are mentioned in Joyce's book entitled A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.--- At Clongowes Joyce led a very routine day. They would awake, eat breakfast, and then be free until study. Following the study, they would attend two classes, and then be free for a midday break. After the break, they had two more classes and then the had "washing," which was followed by dinner at three-thirty. The boys were then free from dinner until beads in the chapel, which was at five-fifteen. They then went to study again until supper at seven. At eight-fifteen, the boys had night prayers and then went to bed.

Joyce left Clongowes in 1891, and returned to schooling in 1893 at Belvedere College. Here at Belvedere, Joyce had only twenty-eight classmates. The routine day at Belvedere was quite different from his day at Clongowes. The day began at nine-thirty with Mass. The first class of the day began at ten. At midday, "beads" were said in the chapel and then the boys ate lunch in the garden. Afternoon classes lasted from one to three. Then the school day ended with benediction. During this time in school, James' dad ran into financial troubles, and this was the most embarrassing thing to a boy at this time. James went with his father to Cork, to sell off what remained of the family property to pay off his debts to Reuben Dodd, the father of a kid in Joyce's class. While at Belvedere he wins an academic accolade for performance in exams and for writing brilliant essays. He graduates from Belvedere in 1898.

The following fall he attends University College, Dublin. While at University College he studies philosophy and language. However he is involved in a struggle with poverty. While attending University College he writes A Brilliant Career. He graduates from here in 1902. In 1902 he leaves for Paris to study medicine, but is in school only a year when he receives word that his mother has died and he must return home in 1903. This concludes the schooling in James Joyce's life.

James Augustine Aloysius Joyce born in Dublin on February 2, to John Stanislaus Joyce and Mary Jane Murray Joyce. He is the eldest of ten children.

Attends Clonglowes Wood College, a Jesuit boarding school. Charles Stewart Parnell dies on October 6, the young Joyce writes an elegy, "Et tu, Healy." His father had the poem printed, but no copies survive.

He briefly attends Christian Brothers School, and then attends Belvedere College, another Jesuit school.

Attends University College. Writes A Brilliant Career.

Mother dies.

Several poems and short stories are published, which eventually appear in Dubliner. Meets his future wife. Finds work in Yugoslavia.

Birth of son, Giorgio.

Chamber Music published in London. Birth of daughter, Lucia Anna.

Publication of Dubliners delayed.

Grant Richards publishes Dubliners. At Pound's urging, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is published serially by the London magazine The Egoist. Joyce begins work on Ulysses.

Joyce completes his play, Exiles. Joyce is awarded a British Royal Literary Fund grant.

Undergoes numerous eye operations.

Exiles published in London and also in the United States.

James Joyce finishes Ulysses.

Joyce begins Finnegan's Wake which was known as Work in Progress until its publication.

Joyce publishes parts of Work in New York to protect copyright.

Marriage of James Joyce and Nora Barnacle in London. Joyce's father dies.

First grandchild, Stephen James Joyce, born to Giorgio and Helen Joyce.

On December 6, Judge Woosley admits Ulysses into the United States.

Finnegan's Wake published in London. Joyce moves to southern France.

Joyce suffers perforated ulcer; dies at age 58. Buried in Fluntern Cemetery in Zurich, with no religious ceremony.