Joyce’s neighbours

While in Trieste, Joyce and his family moved house ten times. But this was not a rare occurrence at all, since moves were a widespread custom, with even two days set aside for them – 24th February and 24th August – in which the leases of shops and homes were renewed, as documented by the announcements of vacant premises in “Il Piccolo”. Most of the lower-middle class people of Trieste lived in rented accommodation and moved on these dates, days on which the city filled up with
household goods, carts and porters. The Joyces always took care to avoid the most run-down districts, such as San Giacomo and the Città Vecchia, although Joyce frequented them for the many drinking establishments offering modest prices. Until 1909 they were in Città Nuova, the business
district of the time, and then in less central, but always lower-middle class districts. Their neighbours – teachers, clerks, sales agents, eamstresses and shopkeepers – have names that resonate with all the languages spoken in Trieste. The female emancipation for the time was striking, with many single women, workers, or widowed landowners who rented out properties, like Francesca Lorenzetto, owner of the building in Via Bramante 4.

> Source: Alberto Governo, Joycian homes and neighbourhoods in Trieste. James Joyce and the housing situation in Trieste at the beginning of the 20th century. Three-year degree thesis in Foreign
Languages and Literatures. Supervisor Tullia Catalan; co-rapporteur Laura Pelaschiar, 2023