Main content

JP Donleavy

Kirsty Young's castaway is writer J P Donleavy.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the writer J P Donleavy. The author of a dozen novels as well as numerous plays and short stories, he remains best known for his first novel, The Ginger Man, which is widely regarded as a modern classic. Born in 1926 and raised in New York, J P Donleavy was the son of Irish immigrant parents. They told him little of Irish culture when he was growing up but, after the war, he moved to Dublin to take up a place at Trinity College. He was already a skilled boxer when he arrived in Ireland and found that street-fighting was almost a form of public entertainment in the city - and one which he excelled in. Despite Trinity's stature, his student life revolved around drinking, partying, writing and painting. He became friends with Brendan Behan and the legendary Irish writer became the first person to read the completed script of The Ginger Man.

Although The Ginger Man was banned in Ireland and expurgated in Britain and America it became a word-of-mouth success. But its publication plunged J P Donleavy into a legal battle that took 20 years to resolve. It was a legal struggle, though, that was worth fighting for - for the past 50 years it has never been out of print.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: 2nd movement of Emperor Concerto by Ludwig van Beethoven
Book: 1972 Social Registry of New York
Luxury: His own long-handled spoon to make dressings.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 9 Mar 2007 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM

More episodes

Previous

Andrew Neil

Next

Andy Kershaw

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Farnham Youth Choir

    The Water of Tyne

    • The Water of Tyne.
    • Herald Records.

  • The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square

    Oh Susannah

    • Songs of the Civil War: Mormon Tabernacle.
    • Sony Classical.

  • Soviet Army Chorus & Drum Corps

    Annie Laurie

    • The Red Army Ensemble.
    • Columbia.

  • Maurice Ravel

    Piano Concerto in G major

    Soloist: Helen Grimaud

    • Gershwin/Ravel/Piano Concertos.
    • Erato.

  • The Fron Male Voice Choir

    Land of My Fathers

    • Voices of the Valley.
    • Universal.

  • CristΓ³bal de Morales

    Parce Mihi Domine (from Officium Defunctorum)

    Soloist: Jan Garbarek Orchestra: The Hilliard Ensemble

    • Officium.
    • ECM.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Humming Chorus (from Madama Butterfly)

    • Madame Butterfly.
    • RCA.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Ludwig van Beethoven

      Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major 'Emperor' - 2nd movement

      Orchestra: The Berlin Philharmonic Soloist: Maurizio Pollini Conductor: Claudio Abbado

      • Beethoven: Klavierkonzert Nr.5.
      • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Book Choice

    • 1972 Social Registry of New York

  • Luxury Choice

    • His own long-handled spoon to make dressings

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest JP Donleavy

Broadcasts

  • Sun 4 Mar 2007 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 9 Mar 2007 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast