An exhibition titled 'James Joyce: Enigmas & Puzzles' has opened at the University of Reading's Museum of English Rural Life, showcasing rare letters and documents of the Irish writer.

The display includes personal letters, manuscripts, family photos, and unpublished letters from Joyce's patron Harriet Shaw Weaver, providing a rare glimpse into his life.

Highlights of the exhibition feature books from the Joyce family library, personal artifacts, and documents that reveal how Joyce devised personal strategies to continue working despite health issues like illness and deteriorating eyesight.

The exhibition will run until February 9, 2026, and is located in the Staircase Hall of the Museum of English Rural Life.

The collection was donated in 2022 by Joyce's grandson, Stephen James Joyce, who selected the University of Reading because of its collection of Samuel Beckett's works, a fellow Irishman and friend of Joyce.

It also showcases personal papers that reveal a different side of Joyce, including his role as a caring father and his friendships with writers and artists across Europe.