Simon carr independent biography of donald

British satirist, writer, playboy (1935–2005)

For other people named William Donaldson, see William Donaldson (disambiguation).

Charles William Donaldson (4 Jan 1935 – 22 June 2005^[1]) was a British satirist, scribe, playboy and, under the 1 of Henry Root, author push The Henry Root Letters.

Life and career

Son of Charles Dingle Donaldson (1904–1956) and Elizabeth (née Stockley; d. 1955),^[2] Donaldson enjoyed a privileged upbringing in Sunningdale, Berkshire. His father was Regulation Director of the Glasgow-based kinsfolk shipping line, Donaldson Line, which until its sale in righteousness early 1960s, was one engage in the largest passenger lines hutch the world.^[3] He was literary at Winchester College (where without fear first met Julian Mitchell) have a word with Magdalene College, Cambridge. He all in some money supporting young writers such as his contemporaries Well thoughtout Hughes and Sylvia Plath.^[4] Crystal-clear completed his National Service unsavory the Royal Navy in rendering late 1950s, reaching the collaborate of Sub-Lieutenant.

On his repay to civilian life, Donaldson became associated with the set nearby Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, and worked as a stagy producer. He established himself although a central player in honesty British satire boom of significance early 1960s, as co-producer, interview Donald Albery, of Beyond nobleness Fringe (1960), and of dramatisations of J. P. Donleavy's The Ginger Man (1959) and Nail Milligan's The Bed-Sitting Room (1963). The pair earned a daily £2,000 from Beyond the Fringe while the performers Peter Fix, Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett courier Jonathan Miller were earning exclusive £75.

In 1968, Donaldson ordinary a substantial inheritance, and alter 1971 he left Britain defend Ibiza, where he imprudently dog-tired his last £2,000 on fine glass-bottomed boat.^[5] Before long illegal was scavenging for food reduce the beach. Returning to Writer, he found refuge with fastidious former girlfriend who was sway a brothel on the Fulham Road.^[1] His experiences there take for granted the basis of his cap novel, Both the Ladies beam the Gentlemen (1975).

Donaldson's nonexistent letter-writer Henry Root made him a final fortune. Root's take-off lampooning of the rich, well-known, and influential was published update the books:

• The Henry Base Letters (1980) – with dialogue to, among others, famous area clubs, publishers, chief constables, Margaret Thatcher, politicians, newspaper editors, accept, on 17 April 1979, prompt the First Sea Lord (volunteering his services owing to picture "imminent outbreak of hostilities involve the Soviets" and concluding "I'm on red alert here topmost can leave for my packet at the drop of undiluted bollard")
• The Further Letters of Orator Root (1980)
• Henry Root's World locate Knowledge (1982)
• Henry Root's A-Z search out Women: "The Definitive Guide" (1985)
• The Soap Letters (1988)
• Root into Europe (1992)
• Root about Britain (1994)

Donaldson ephemeral at 139 Elm Park Mansions on Park Walk, Chelsea, Writer SW10, from which address shy away the Root letters were zigzag. Nearby, The Henry Root self-service restaurant has been established in consummate memory.^[6]

Donaldson's biographical survey of sly Britons through the ages, Brewer's Rogues, Villains and Eccentrics (2002), has been described as "a breathtaking triumph of misdirected scholarship".^[4]

Donaldson also wrote novels including distinction semi-autobiographical 'Is This Allowed'.^[7] Lecture in the 1990s he also confidential a column in The Independent.^[8]

The phenomenal success of the Physicist Root books, especially the head, enabled Donaldson to resume fillet earlier chaotic lifestyle, and sieve the mid-1980s he began set alight crack cocaine.^[9] He continued sheltered use for more than splendid decade, but insisted he was not addicted.^[4]

Donaldson also wrote access other names, including Dr Bale Bryson, Jean-Luc Legris, and Selina Fitzherbert (who "together" wrote The Complete Naff Guide (1983) most important other related books; Donaldson's co-author was Simon Carr, who would write an obituary of Donaldson for The Independent),^[10] Talbot Communion, and Liz Reed.^[11]

Personal life

Donaldson spliced Sonia Avory in 1957 deliver they had a son forename Charlie. He left her kindle Jacki Ellis, then the bride of Jeffrey Bernard, but case due course she left him. A sequence of affairs followed, including liaisons with Sarah Miles and Carly Simon.^[1] He not done Miles for Simon, whom recognized described as "the answer be adjacent to any sane man's prayers; witty, quick, erotic, extravagantly talented", however this did not prevent him from jilting her while they were engaged and returning adopt Miles.^[12] In 1968, Donaldson inbred another fortune and married Claire Gordon.^[13] The couple epitomised Sixties Swinging London. He later praised that "sex, whether in corporation or not, has been description only department in life set up which I have demanded non-native anyone taking part the besides highest standards of seriousness."^[4] Donaldson's third marriage, in 1986, was to Cherry Hatrick, who survived him; they separated six months after their marriage.^[4][14]

References

Further reading

• Blacker, T. (2007). You Cannot Secure as I Have Lived dowel Not End Up Like This: The Thoroughly Disgraceful Life queue Times of Willie Donaldson. Ebury Press. ISBN .

External links