Roddy Doyle (born 8 May 1958) is an Irish novelist, dramatist and screenwriter. He is the author of eleven novels for adults, eight books for children, seven plays and screenplays, and dozens of short stories. Several of his books have been made into films, beginning with ''
The Commitments'' in 1991. Doyle's work is set primarily in Ireland, especially working-class
Dublin
Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of th ...
, and is notable for its heavy use of dialogue written in slang and
Irish English
Hiberno-English (from Latin ''Hibernia'': "Ireland"), and in ga, Béarla na hÉireann. or Irish English, also formerly Anglo-Irish, is the set of English dialects native to the island of Ireland (including both the Republic of Ireland a ...
dialect. Doyle was awarded the
Booker Prize
The Booker Prize, formerly known as the Booker Prize for Fiction (1969–2001) and the Man Booker Prize (2002–2019), is a Literary award, literary prize awarded each year for the best novel written in English and published in the United King ...
in 1993 for his novel ''
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha''.
Personal life
Doyle was born in Dublin and grew up in
Kilbarrack
Kilbarrack ( - ''Church of St. Berach'' or ''of young Barra'') is a residential suburb of Dublin, Ireland, running inwards from the coast, about from the city's centre. It is also a civil parish in the ancient barony of Coolock. Modern-day Kil ...
, in a middle-class family.
His mother, Ita Bolger Doyle, was a first cousin of the short story writer
Maeve Brennan
Maeve Brennan (January 6, 1917 – November 1, 1993) was an Irish short story writer and journalist. She moved to the United States in 1934 when her father was appointed to the Irish Legation in Washington. She was an important figure in bo ...
. Doyle graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from
University College Dublin
University College Dublin (commonly referred to as UCD) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath) is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland ...
. He spent several years as an English and geography teacher before becoming a full-time writer in 1993. His personal notes and work books reside at the
National Library of Ireland
The National Library of Ireland (NLI; ga, Leabharlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann) is the Republic of Ireland's national library located in Dublin, in a building designed by Thomas Newenham Deane. The mission of the National Library of Ireland is ...
.
In addition to teaching, Doyle, along with Seán Love, established a creative writing centre, "Fighting Words", which opened in Dublin in January 2009. It was inspired by a visit to his friend
Dave Eggers
Dave Eggers (born March 12, 1970) is an American writer, editor, and publisher. He wrote the 2000 best-selling memoir ''A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius''. Eggers is also the founder of ''Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern'', a lite ...
'
826 Valencia
826 Valencia is a non-profit organization in the Mission District of San Francisco, California, United States, dedicated to helping children and young adults develop writing skills and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. It was ...
project in San Francisco. He has also engaged in local causes, including signing a petition supporting journalist
Suzanne Breen, who faced gaol for refusing to divulge her sources in court, and joining a protest against an attempt by
Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council ( ga, Comhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath) is the authority responsible for local government in the city of Dublin in Ireland. As a city council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. Until 2001, the council wa ...
to construct 9 ft-high barriers which would interfere with one of his favourite views.
In 1987 Doyle married Belinda Moller,
granddaughter of former Irish President
Erskine Childers. They have three children; Rory, Jack and Kate.
Doyle is an atheist.
Work
Doyle's writing is marked by heavy use of dialogue between characters, with little description or exposition. His work is largely set in Ireland, with a focus on the lives of working-class Dubliners. Themes range from domestic and personal concerns to larger questions of Irish history.
Novels for adults
Doyle's first three novels, ''
The Commitments'' (1987), ''
The Snapper'' (1990) and ''
The Van'' (1991) compose
The Barrytown Trilogy
''The Barrytown Trilogy'', later also referred to as ''The Barrytown Pentalogy'', is an Irish comedy-drama media franchise centred on the Rabbittes, a working-class family from Barrytown, Dublin. It began in 1988 when Beacon Pictures and 20t ...
, a trilogy centred on the Rabbitte family. All three novels were made into successful films.
''The Commitments'' is about a group of Dublin teenagers, led by Jimmy Rabbitte Jr., who decide to form a soul band in the tradition of
Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett (March 18, 1941 – January 19, 2006) was an American singer and songwriter.
A major figure in the development of soul music, Pickett recorded over 50 songs which made the US R&B charts, many of which crossed over to the ''Bill ...
. The novel was made into a
film
A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...
in 1991. ''
The Snapper'', made into a
film
A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...
in 1993, focuses on Jimmy's sister, Sharon, who becomes pregnant. She is determined to have the child but refuses to reveal the father's identity to her family. In ''
The Van'', which was shortlisted for the 1991
Booker Prize
The Booker Prize, formerly known as the Booker Prize for Fiction (1969–2001) and the Man Booker Prize (2002–2019), is a Literary award, literary prize awarded each year for the best novel written in English and published in the United King ...
and made into a
film
A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...
in 1996, Jimmy Sr. is laid off, as is his friend Bimbo; the two buy a used
fish and chips
Fish and chips is a popular hot dish consisting of fried fish in crispy batter, served with chips. The dish originated in England, where these two components had been introduced from separate immigrant cultures; it is not known who created t ...
van and they go into business for themselves.
In 1993, Doyle published ''
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha'', winner of the 1993
Booker Prize
The Booker Prize, formerly known as the Booker Prize for Fiction (1969–2001) and the Man Booker Prize (2002–2019), is a Literary award, literary prize awarded each year for the best novel written in English and published in the United King ...
, which showed the world as described, understood and misunderstood by a ten-year-old Dubliner living in 1968.
Doyle's next novel dealt with darker themes. ''
The Woman Who Walked into Doors
''The Woman Who Walked Into Doors'' (1996) is a novel by Irish writer Roddy Doyle. It was adapted from the 1994 RTÉ/BBC miniseries ''Family''.
Plot summary
The novel tells the struggle and survival of Paula Spencer, an abused wife who is the n ...
'', published in 1996, is the story of a battered wife, Paula Spencer, who was introduced in his 1994 television series ''
Family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
'', and is narrated by her. Despite her husband's increasingly violent behaviour, Paula defends him, using the classic excuse "I walked into a door" to explain her bruises. Ten years later, the protagonist returned in ''
Paula Spencer'', published in 2006.
Doyle's most recent trilogy of adult novels is ''
The Last Roundup'' series, which follows the adventures of protagonist Henry Smart through several decades. ''
A Star Called Henry
''A Star Called Henry'' (1999) is a novel by Irish writer Roddy Doyle. It is Vol. 1 of '' The Last Roundup'' series. The second installment of the series, '' Oh, Play That Thing'', was published in 2004. The third, '' The Dead Republic'', was p ...
'' (published 1999) is the first book in the series, and tells the story of Henry Smart, an IRA volunteer and 1916 Easter Rebellion fighter, from his birth in Dublin to his adulthood when he becomes a father. ''
Oh, Play That Thing!'' (2004) continues Henry's story in 1924 America, beginning in the Lower East Side of New York City, where he catches the attention of local mobsters by hiring kids to carry his sandwich boards. He also goes to Chicago where he becomes a business partner with
Louis Armstrong
Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed "Satchmo", "Satch", and "Pops", was an American trumpeter and vocalist. He was among the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades and several era ...
. The title is taken from a phrase that is shouted in one of Armstrong's songs, "Dippermouth Blues". In the final novel in the trilogy, ''
The Dead Republic
''The Dead Republic: A Novel'' is a 2010 novel by Irish author Roddy Doyle which concluded '' The Last Roundup'' trilogy. The first book in the trilogy was ''A Star Called Henry (1999)'', and the second was '' Oh, Play That Thing! (2004)''.
Plo ...
'' (published 2010), Henry collaborates on writing the script for a Hollywood film. He returns to Ireland and is offered work as the caretaker in a school, when circumstances lead to him re-establishing his link with the IRA.
Doyle frequently posts short comic dialogues on his
Facebook
Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin M ...
page which are implied to be between two older men in a pub, often relating to current events in Ireland (such as the
2015 marriage referendum) and further afield. These developed into the novella ''Two Pints'' (2012). Other recent works are ''
The Guts'' (2013), which continues the story of the Rabbitte family from the Barrytown Trilogy, focusing on a 48-year-old Jimmy Rabbite and his diagnosis of
bowel cancer
Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel m ...
and ''Two More Pints'' (2014).
Novels for children
Doyle has also written many novels for children, including the "Rover Adventures" series, which includes ''The Giggler Treatment'' (2000), ''Rover Saves Christmas'' (2001), and ''The Meanwhile Adventures'' (2004).
Other children's books include ''Wilderness'' (2007), ''Her Mother's Face'' (2008), and ''A Greyhound of a Girl'' (2011).
Plays, screenplays, short stories and non-fiction
Doyle is also a prolific dramatist, composing four plays and two screenplays. His plays with the Passion Machine Theatre company include ''Brownbread'' (1987) and ''War'' (1989), directed by
Paul Mercier with set and costume design by Anne Gately. Later plays include ''The Woman Who Walked into Doors'' (2003); and a rewrite of ''
The Playboy of the Western World
''The Playboy of the Western World'' is a three-act play written by Irish playwright John Millington Synge and first performed at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, on 26 January 1907. It is set in Michael James Flaherty's public house in County Mayo (o ...
'' (2007) with Bisi Adigun. This latter play was the subject of litigation about copyright which ended with the
Abbey Theatre
The Abbey Theatre ( ga, Amharclann na Mainistreach), also known as the National Theatre of Ireland ( ga, Amharclann Náisiúnta na hÉireann), in Dublin, Ireland, is one of the country's leading cultural institutions. First opening to the pu ...
agreeing to pay Adigun €600,000.
Screenplays include the television screenplay for ''
Family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
'' (1994), which was a
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
and the forerunner of the 1996 novel ''The Woman Who Walked into Doors''. Doyle also authored ''
'' (2000), which is a romance about a timid schoolteacher (Brendan) and a free-spirited thief (Trudy).
Doyle has written many short stories, several of which have been published in ''
''; they have also been compiled in two collections. ''
'' was published in 2007, while the collection ''Bullfighting'' was published in 2011. Doyle's story "New Boy" was
.
''Rory and Ita'' (2002) is a work of non-fiction about Doyle's parents, based on interviews with them.