James Joyce and Trieste

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The famous Irish writer James Joyce lived in Trieste on two occasions. The first time, he was there for several years. The second time, he only stayed for one year.

 

James Joyce was born in Dublin (Ireland) in 1882. But he was not happy as he grew up in Ireland. In 1904, he met Nora Barnacle, his partner in life and eventually also his wife. Together they decided to leave Ireland and try to explore the world in continental Europe.

 

James Joyce hoped to get a job as an English teacher at a Berlitz language school in Switzerland. But when he got there, he was told there was no job for him.

 

He was told to go to Trieste. Perhaps he could find a job there. At first, there was no job for him in Trieste, either. He had to go to Pula. But after a while there was a job for him in Trieste. This is why the couple ended up this place.

 

He worked as a teacher, but he also tried to build a career as a professional writer.

 

When they arrived in Trieste, it was still a part of the Austrian Empire, but many Italians were living in this city and Italian was a common language spoken in this place.

 

When World War One began in 1914, Italy was still neutral. In 1915, Italy joined the war on the side of the Entente.

 

James Joyce was born in Ireland, but at that time Ireland was a part of Britain. Since he was a British citizen, he was regarded as an enemy alien. He and his family had to get out of there. They escaped to Zürich, Switzerland. They stayed there during the war.

 

In 1919, they returned to Trieste which was a different place. Before the war, it was controlled by Austria. After the war, it was controlled by Italy.

 

James Joyce and his family did not like it anymore. They did not stay long this time. In 1920, they moved to Paris (France) where they remained for twenty years.

 

In 1940, when Nazi Germany invaded and defeated France, he realised that he had to get out of there. For the second time in his life he had to leave his home, because a world war had broken out.

 

James, his wife Nora, and their son Giorgio escaped to Switzerland. In 1940, their daughter Lucia was living in an institution. They had to hurry. There was not time to get Lucia. They settled in Zürich again.

 

When they arrived, he suffered from poor health. He had serious problems with his eyes.

 

He died in Zürich in 1941.

 

REFERENCE

 

The World of James Joyce: His Life and Work

A documentary film which premiered in 1982 

 

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