James Joyce (February 2, 1882-January 13, 1941) was an Irish poet and novelist, who revolutionized the treatment of plots and characters in fiction. Many consider William Shakespeare to be his only rival as master of the English language. He is considered one of the most influential writers of 20th-century literature. Joyce's famous novel, Ulysses (1922), was a landmark literary achievement and is included among the rankings of works such as Homer's Odyssey. Other major works are his short story collection, Dubliners (1914), and his novel, Finnegan's Wake (1939).