James Joyce (1882-1941) was an Irish expatriate writer, widely considered to be one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century. He is best known for his landmark novel Ulysses and its highly controversial successor Finnegans Wake, as well as the short-story collection Dubliners and the semi-autobiographical novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.

Jim Norton, one of Ireland's leading actors, has worked regularly on Joycean topics--and particularly Ulysses--during his long career. Born and brought up in Dublin, he spent his early acting years in Irish radio and quickly moved on to film, television, and theater. Norton won a 2007 Olivier Award and a 2008 Tony Award for The Seafarer and has appeared in The Weir, for which he was nominated for a Tony; Finian's Rainbow; Juno and the Paycock; Dublin Carol; and Port Authority, among many others acclaimed stage productions. Film appearances include Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Water for Elephants, Straw Dogs, Hidden Agenda, Driving Lessons, and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Norton has also recorded many audiobooks and the complete works of James Joyce for Naxos AudioBooks, which won a Sony Award.