James Joyce’s work, most notably Ulysses, redefined the novel through its use of stream-of-consciousness, complex linguistic experimentation, and mythological parallels. His earlier works, Dubliners and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, explored the themes of epiphany and the individual's struggle against social and religious structures. Living most of his life as an expatriate in continental Europe, Joyce's work remained deeply rooted in his native Dublin. His technical mastery and profound influence on language and narrative structure made him one of the most important writers of the 20th century.