DEATH OF AUTHOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23863, 14 January 1941, Page 81

DEATH OF AUTHOR

MR. JAMES JOYCE

MUCH DISCUSSED- WRITER

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received January 13, 8 p.m.) ZURICH, Jan. 13 The death has occurred of the author Mr. James Joyce, aged 58.

One of the most discussed of modern literary figures, Mr. James Joyce was born in Dublin and educated at the Royal University, Dublin. He studied medicine at Paris University, but left to train as an opera singer, having a fine tenor voice. He returned to .Dublin, where he produced a volume of verse "Chamber Music" and a novel "Dubliners," marked by vivid characterisation, but so eccentric in style that he had difficulty in finding a publisher. After marrying in 1901 he went abroad as a teacher of languages, but returned to Dublin in 1912 and opened a cinema. This proving unsuccessful, he went to Trieste, but at the outbreak of the war moved to Switzerland.

Meanwhile ho had been working on "Ulysses," a book which has been both praised and condemned unstintedly. "Ulysses" took him 10 years to write. Owing to its freedom of expression no .British linn would publish it and the book was printed by a French linn, lb was marked by his highly-characteristic style, particularly t'lig invention of words to express ideas or imitate sounds,: and by other experiments which have been used as a basis by other, writers. In later works he carried his' eccentricity in language still further. For years he was troubled by bad sight. At one time he was practically blind, but after a number of operations be was able to see again. Although some critics refer to him as a "literary Bolshevik," Mr. H. (<. Wells described him as the greatest Kinrlisli stylist since Swift. His works, included a pl-iy, "Kxilcs." a book of \er-c, "Pones Penveach," and the novel "Finnegan's Wake."