“I am a poor impulsive sinful generous selfish jealous dissatisfied kind-hearted poet.” Joyce amusingly compresses contradictory aspects of his personality into one self-description. · Letter to Nora Barnacle, 1909 Humour Love Self
“I do not like it myself mais que voulez-vous?” A wonderfully dry admission of Joyce’s own ambivalence towards his work. · Letter to Fanny Guillermet, 1919 Humour Self Writing
“It is very consoling to me that you consider me a writer because every time I sit down with a pen in my hand I have to persuade myself and others of the fact.” A revealing glimpse of Joyce’s self-doubt despite his growing reputation. · Letter to Harriet Shaw Weaver, 1920 Doubt Self Writing
