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Who Was James Joyce? James Joyce / James Augustine Aloysius Joyce (1882-1941), was an Irish novelist noted for his experimental use of language. He contributed to the modernist avant-garde movement and is regarded as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. Joyce came from a big family and was the eldest of ten children. His father was a talented singer (he reportedly had one of the finest tenor voices in all of Ireland), but failed to support his family. His habit of drinking and spending money carelessly soon brought the family into financial crises. From an early age, Joyce loved to write and had a passion for literature. He taught himself Norwegian so he could read Henrik Ibsen's plays in the language they had been written and spent his free time devouring Dante, Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas. Because of his intelligence, Joyce's family pushed him to get an education. Largely educated by Jesuits, Joyce attended the Irish schools of Clongowes Wood College and