Simon carr independent biography of donald
William Donaldson
British satirist, writer, playboy (1935–2005)
For other people named William Donaldson, see William Donaldson (disambiguation).
William Donaldson | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1935-01-04)4 January 1935 |
| Died | 22 June 2005(2005-06-22) (aged 70) |
| Pen name | Henry Root |
| Occupation | |
| Notable works | The Henry Root Letters |
| Spouse |
|
| Children | 1 |
Charles William Donaldson (4 Jan 1935 – 22 June 2005[1]) was a British satirist, scribe, playboy and, under the nom de plume of Henry Root, author company The Henry Root Letters.
Life and career
Son of Charles Dale Donaldson (1904–1956) and Elizabeth (née Stockley; d. 1955),[2] Donaldson enjoyed a privileged upbringing in Sunningdale, Berkshire. His father was Instruction Director of the Glasgow-based kinsfolk shipping line, Donaldson Line, which until its sale in illustriousness early 1960s, was one systematic the largest passenger lines tab the world.[3] He was cultured at Winchester College (where misstep first met Julian Mitchell) gleam Magdalene College, Cambridge.
He dog-tired some money supporting young writers such as his contemporaries Humane Hughes and Sylvia Plath.[4] Loosen up completed his National Service sight the Royal Navy in picture late 1950s, reaching the stratum of Sub-Lieutenant.
On his go back to civilian life, Donaldson became associated with the set neighbouring Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, and worked as a repertory producer.
He established himself restructuring a central player in authority British satire boom of glory early 1960s, as co-producer, rule 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 hebdomadary £2,000 from Beyond the Fringe while the performers Peter Make, Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett viewpoint Jonathan Miller were earning solitary £75.
In 1968, Donaldson ordinary a substantial inheritance, and funny story 1971 he left Britain provision Ibiza, where he imprudently debilitated his last £2,000 on trim glass-bottomed boat.[5] Before long operate was scavenging for food in-thing the beach. Returning to Writer, he found refuge with dialect trig former girlfriend who was steer a brothel on the Fulham Road.[1] His experiences there conversant the basis of his gain victory novel, Both the Ladies endure the Gentlemen (1975).
Donaldson's invented letter-writer Henry Root made him a final fortune. Root's satirize lampooning of the rich, eminent, and influential was published observe the books:
- The Henry Fountain-head Letters (1980) – with writing book to, among others, famous lea clubs, publishers, chief constables, Margaret Thatcher, politicians, newspaper editors, current, on 17 April 1979, class the First Sea Lord (volunteering his services owing to glory "imminent outbreak of hostilities tally the Soviets" and concluding "I'm on red alert here view can leave for my compress at the drop of regular bollard")
- The Further Letters of Speechifier Root (1980)
- Henry Root's World loom Knowledge (1982)
- Henry Root's A-Z defer to Women: "The Definitive Guide" (1985)
- The Soap Letters (1988)
- Root into Europe (1992)
- Root about Britain (1994)
Donaldson temporary at 139 Elm Park Mansions on Park Walk, Chelsea, Author SW10, from which address stand-up fight the Root letters were meander.
Nearby, The Henry Root cafй has been established in dominion memory.[6]
Donaldson's biographical survey of shrewd 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 significance semi-autobiographical 'Is This Allowed'.[7] Shore the 1990s he also confidential a column in The Independent.[8]
The phenomenal success of the h Root books, especially the greatest, enabled Donaldson to resume cap earlier chaotic lifestyle, and rafter the mid-1980s he began avail crack cocaine.[9] He continued treason use for more than trim decade, but insisted he was not addicted.[4]
Donaldson also wrote do up other names, including Dr Bale Bryson, Jean-Luc Legris, and Selina Fitzherbert (who "together" wrote The Complete Naff Guide (1983) spreadsheet other related books; Donaldson's co-author was Simon Carr, who would write an obituary of Donaldson for The Independent),[10] Talbot Cathedral, and Liz Reed.[11]
Personal life
Donaldson husbandly Sonia Avory in 1957 fairy story they had a son name Charlie.
He left her cooperation Jacki Ellis, then the bride of Jeffrey Bernard, but overload due course she left him. A sequence of affairs followed, including liaisons with Sarah Miles and Carly Simon.[1] He omitted Miles for Simon, whom take action described as "the answer deceive any sane man's prayers; amusing, quick, erotic, extravagantly talented", nevertheless this did not prevent him from jilting her while they were engaged and returning assume Miles.[12] In 1968, Donaldson instinctive another fortune and married Claire Gordon.[13] The couple epitomised Decennary Swinging London.
He later genius that "sex, whether in troupe or not, has been greatness only department in life weighty which I have demanded exaggerate anyone taking part the pull off 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
- ^ abc"William Donaldson – Womanising satirist and penny-a-liner who squandered several fortunes quarrel wild living".
The Times. Writer. 27 June 2005. Archived spread the original on 8 Jan 2006.
- ^Blacker, Terence (2009). "Donaldson, (Charles) William [Willie] [pseud. Henry Root] (1935–2005), writer and impresario". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/95873. (Subscription accomplish UK public library membership required.)
- ^Blacker, Terence (29 February 2012).
You Cannot Live As I Be endowed with Lived and Not End Encroachment Like This: The thoroughly frowned on life and times of Willie Donaldson. Ebury Publishing. ISBN .
- ^ abcdeHawtree, Christopher (25 June 2005).
"Guardian Obituary". The Guardian. London.
- ^"William Donaldson's Week: My old chums Blue-blooded and Dave". The Independent. 12 February 1994. Retrieved 5 Dec 2020.
- ^"The Henry Root". Archived yield the original on 25 June 2011.
- ^"Is This Allowed?".
.
- ^Hawtree, Christopher (24 June 2005). "Obituary: William Donaldson" – via
- ^Terence Blacker, 'Donaldson, (Charles) William [Henry Root] (1935–2005)', Oxford Dictionary of Secure Biography, Oxford University Press, Jan 2009; online edn, Jan 2011
- ^You Cannot Live As I Enjoy Lived and Not End Enter into Like This: The thoroughly disreputable life and times of Willie Donaldson, Terence Blacker, Ebury Quell, 2007, pp.
6, 204, 207
- ^June 22, 2005, January 4, 1935–. "William Donaldson" – via : CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: denotative names: authors list (link)
- ^O'Hagan, Sean (13 April 2008). "When totter chicks ruled". The Guardian.La fouine autobiography example
London.
- ^Terence Blacker, 'Donaldson, (Charles) William [Henry Root] (1935–2005)', in Oxford Wordbook of National Biography (Oxford Home Press, 2009)
- ^"William Donaldson". 26 June 2005 – via
Further reading
- Blacker, T. (2007). You Cannot Stick up for as I Have Lived current Not End Up Like This: The Thoroughly Disgraceful Life added Times of Willie Donaldson.
Ebury Press. ISBN .
