Sir, – My hopes of a rare Christmas bonus have been rudely shattered by your review of Prodigals and Geniuses: The Writers and Artists of Dublin's Baggotonia(Anne Haverty, Weekend Review, November 26th). It reminded me of Goldsmith's small-town madame, who was determined not to be amused by the strolling players and who sank the whole starving platoon! Instead of objectivity, there was a resolute negativity which did not reflect your paper's high standards.
I would like to point out that Anthony Cronin, John Ryan Co are warmly acknowledged in my book. Also biographers Peter Costello and Antoinette Quinn and – "JP Donleavy for his unflagging The History of the Ginger Man; Vivien Igoe for her invaluable guides to both literary Dublin and the city's burial grounds; Ulick O'Connor for his biographies and engaging account of the Irish Literary Revival."
Re scarce footnotes, while I sadly resented many a sunny week in libraries, my book is based on personal experiences of the characters and scribes of the 1950s. It’s not an academic exercise. Rather than impede the narrative with notes, I concentrate valuable space on the trials and joys of the book’s subjects, particularly those who toiled during the dark censored 1940s and 1950s. As for the absence of women, what about all the brave artists such as Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone whom I praise for returning from Paris to preach Modernism? While male equivalents Beckett and Joyce basked in the adulation of the more congenial French capital! The late James Liddy warned me on the subject of the legend of Brendan Behan. I knew Brendan, Beatrice, Stephen and Kathleen Behan. I interviewed Brendan’s close friend, Des MacNamara, also McDaid’s manager Paddy O’Brien and the ladies of Parsons Bookshop, who knew him better than most. I took care to write respectfully, not simplistically, about the two Brendans, the man and the showman.
Almost half of Ms Haverty's review was devoted to a man who occupied a scant three of the book's 300 pages! There are other meanderings and inaccuracies. I do define unmapped Baggotonia's location. Butterboxes featured not in Owen Walsh's studio but in that of Nevill Johnson. Who is "John Ryan Snr"? There is only one John Ryan who chronicled that period. I interviewed the Envoyfounder many times and wheeled him around the Royal Hospital during his final illness.
More happily, Foreword writer JP Donleavy, a key player of the period, enjoyed Prodigalsand was greatly impressed with its Liffey Press production. Like good health, there is a lot to be said for the capacity for enjoyment! – Yours, etc,