The Ginger Man

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The Ginger Man is a 1955 novel by J. P. Donleavy.

First published in Paris, the novel is set in Ireland just after World War II. Upon its publication, it was banned in the Republic of Ireland and the United States of America for obscenity.

[edit] Plot introduction

It follows the often racy misadventures of Sebastian Dangerfield, a young American living in Dublin and studying law at Trinity College.

This book may be considered part of the fictionalised roar of the end of the Second World war hiatus also represented by the colossi of American literature: John Dos Passos, Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck. Dangerfield is an American Protestant of Irish descent, commonly believed to be a thinly-fictionalised version of the book's author, but is in fact more broadly based on not only Donleavy's life but also those of his cohorts while at Trinity College in Dublin. The hero, Dangerfield, is a portrayal of lifelong bohemian and friend of Donleavy, Gainor Stephen Crist, as told by the author in "A History of 'The Ginger Man'". Dangerfield upon his arrival in Dublin for an education, realises that he has a mission; simply put, to fornicate and philosophise.

The book gives us the map of the terra incognito of late 1950's sexual encounters in Dublin and Donleavy's later books spell out the aftermath (particularly A Fairy Tale of New York - which later inspired Shane MacGowan's song Fairytale of New York, recorded by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl).

[edit] Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

The book is set to hit the silver screen for the first time with Johnny Depp playing the protagonist. Shooting began in late 2006. The director will be Laurence Dunmore of The Libertine fame. New-comer Adam Hurley is also slated to play a large supporting role.

[edit] Inspired drinkeries

This book is the inspiration for several taverns in Ireland and the United States. A Gingerman pub is located in Dublin near Trinity. Four connected pubs (though no longer commonly owned), approved of and visited by Donleavy, are located in Houston, Dallas, Austin and Manhattan. A fifth American Gingerman pub is located in Chicago.