11. Exiles

Exiles was Joyce’s only published play but it is not often performed. In his youth Joyce was heavily influenced by the life and writing of Norwegian dramatist Henrik Ibsen, but he made only a couple of efforts to write a play of his own. Nothing remains of his first effort at drama, called A Brilliant Career, which Joyce grandly dedicated to his own soul! He started writing Exiles in Trieste in 1914 and completed it in Zurich the following year. It was published in 1918 and the first production was in 1919 in Munich in a German translation. The play focuses on the relationship between Richard Rowan and Bertha, and its themes of exile, jealousy and betrayal are central to Joyce’s works.

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The James Joyce Center

The James Joyce Cultural Centre is situated in a stunning Georgian townhouse, offering visitors historical and biographical information about James Joyce and his influence in literature. We host walking tours, exhibitions, workshops and lectures for visitors with a casual interest and Joycean experts alike. See the door to the famous No 7 Eccles Street from “Ulysses”, a recreation of his living quarters in Paris, art exhibitions and more which bring the author and his works to life.