Published in 1955 this was the first work from J P Donleavy ( James Patrick) and hasn't been out of print since and has been described as a classic by others.
Its the mis-adventures of Sebastian Dangerfield, an American living in squalor in Dublin.
Dangerfield is a drunken, lying, wife beating waster who to me has no charm whatsoever.
The initial part of the book concerns us with our 'hero' stealing the house keeping for drink,running up huge unpayable bills for drink and totally neglecting his family while doing so. Call me strange but I didn't see any hilarity in this.
Later he seduces a boarder who he uses for her money and then a younger woman with whom he settles down with somewhat. Although I don't feel there is any redemption, he just gets more cunning.
For its time it was considered risque and was initially banned in the U S and the Republic of Ireland; - because of its 'startling nature'.
Dangerfield comes across as just a sad,desperate individual and empathy I have none.
As far as characters in literature go, Dangerfield ranks up there with Ignatius Reilly from - A Confederacy of Dunces - as totally loathsome.
It may be just me though who lacks the sense of humour because I have seen - A Confederacy of Dunces - referred to as a comic masterpiece as well.
The character Dangerfield was evidently based on a friend of Donleavy's when he first moved to Ireland after the Second World War. This friend Gainor Stephen Crist died young of alcoholism.
Now, not liking the character does not mean this isn't really well written, it is and Donleavy has gone on and written hilarious novels. He is kicking along at 84 and gives the impression of being a very naughty boy still.
If starting to read Donleavy I would recommend the Darcy Dancer trilogy; no where near as depressing or as brutal as parts of this one are and truly funny.
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