`I grew up in the 1940s and 1950s when very few Irish books were published. There weren't many books at home and even at school, books were remote. I remember they were locked up in a trunk and we were only let at them at specific times. However, books I do remember are The Path Finder and The Deer Slayer by James Fenimore Cooper. They were based in North America and full of hunting and adventure. I also read Biggles which was about a World War 1 Royal Air Force pilot who was always the hero. This and the Just William books I read were very removed from Irish culture."