alphanull

"Welcome, O life! I go to encounter for the millionth time the reality of experience and to forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race."

Thus James Joyce concludes the last chapter of Portrait of the Artist As A Young Man and the first chapter of his life. In my view, this work should be included in any list of most influential novels of the 20th century. He then left Dublin and hardly ever spent much time in Ireland again. I had to study this book and it has certainly been a great influence on my life.

One of my favourite quotes is:

"I will not serve that in which I no longer believe whether it call itself home, my fatherland or my church: and I will try to express myself in some mode of life or art as freely as I can and as wholly as I can, using for my defence the only arms I allow myself to use, silence, exile, and cunning."

You can read some of it here.

http://www.online-literature.com/james_joyce/portrait_artist_young_man/

In a lighter vein for those of you with time on your hands, imagine a blind date with a crackwhore.
Warning, Bad language and sexual content!

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2673381

Late Edition. This must be one of the most remarkable women I have ever heard of, her humility and courage are simply breathtaking.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/secondworldwar/story/0,,2034182,00.html
http://www.irenasendler.org/facts.asp