James Joyce Dies

With the death of James Joyce there passes the strangest and most original figure which Ireland gave to Europe in this generation.

The ban imposed for years upon his "Ulysses" gave a notoriety to his name without disclosing his true stature and strength. That he was a genuine artist, sincere, integrated, and profound is clear from the simplicity of his early short stories "Dubliners" and from the well-defined autobiographical narrative of "Portrait of the Artist."

In "Ulysses" he attempted the difficult task of presenting a complete picture of the life of the individual in our time, both conscious and subconscious, the single, peccant, groping man with the hard unrelenting universe around him.

Of note, however, the autopsy report revealed that Joyce had not 1, but 2 duodenal ulcers. One had perforated and been sealed with an omental patch; the other was the source of the final gastrointestinal hemorrhage, which led to Joyce's death. The hemorrhage required 2 units of blood, which is substantial. The combination of simultaneous bleeding and perforating ulcer disease is uncommon, occurring in about 5% of all ulcer patients.