Brendan Behan was an author and playwright--and also a member the
Irish Republican Army. Born in Dublin into a staunchly republican
family, he became a member of the IRA's youth organization Fianna
Éireann at the age of fourteen. Behan eventually joined the IRA
which led to his serving time in a Borstal youth prison in the
United Kingdom and he was also imprisoned in Ireland. Subsequently
released from prison as part of a general amnesty given by the
Fianna Fáil government in 1946, Behan moved between homes in
Dublin, Kerry and Connemara, and also resided in Paris for a
time.
In 1956, Behan's first play, The Quare Fellow gained him a wide
reputation. This was helped by a famous drunken interview on BBC
television. In 1958, Behan's play in the Irish language An Giall
had its debut at Dublin's Damer Theatre. Later, The Hostage,
Behan's English-language adaptation of An Giall, met with great
success internationally. Behan's autobiographical novel, Borstal
Boy, was published the same year and became a worldwide
best-seller.
Benedict Kiely was one of the most beloved Irish authors. In 1996,
he was named Saoi of Aosdána, the highest honor given by the Arts
Council of Ireland.
"Without a doubt, Borstal Boy is the most important book of its kind published this century."--New Statesman
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