JP Donleavy Bibliography

More Information

JP Donleavy, James Patrick, was born in Brooklyn 23rd April 1926 to Irish immigrant parents. He served in the Naval Academy during World War II but already had a love and flair for writing. Greatly influenced by James Joyce which created a desire to go to Ireland. On leaving the Navy he decided to go to college though met with little success in being accepted. With Ireland in his thoughts he applied to and was accepted at Trinity College Dublin due mainly he later claimed to a combination of good luck and their ignorance of American qualifications. He enjoyed a comfortable few years trying his hand at painting and writing short stories. After getting married and acquiring a small holding near Kilcoole on the Wicklow coast the financial reality of the real world hit home. He tried to sell some of his paintings to various galleries, though they were met with approval and considered original he was told they would only sell if he became known. Stoic in rejection he returned home and began to write what was to become his best known novel The Ginger Man. When finished the nightmare of getting it published began, despite being well received it was continually rejected due to obscenity concerns. Originally published by Olympia Press in Paris it was edited and marketed in such a way as to dismay the author to such an extent that he swore revenge on them. Legal battles continued for years over the rights to the book. Revenge was to come some years later when Olympia went bankrupt and the name and rights went up for auction. The original owner hoped to buy them back for a song only to be outbid by two women one Mary Price was bidding under her maiden name, her married name being Mary Donleavy!. If you are looking to buy or sell books then our find a bookshop section may be of some assistance.

You may also Like
James Joyce
John Banville