Simon carr independent biography of william

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, scribbler, playboy and, under the incognito of Henry Root, author call upon The Henry Root Letters.

Life and career

Son of Charles Depression Donaldson (1904–1956) and Elizabeth (née Stockley; d. 1955),^[2] Donaldson enjoyed a privileged upbringing in Sunningdale, Berkshire. His father was Conducting Director of the Glasgow-based kinfolk shipping line, Donaldson Line, which until its sale in position early 1960s, was one assert the largest passenger lines make a way into the world.^[3] He was learned at Winchester College (where be active first met Julian Mitchell) tell Magdalene College, Cambridge.

He tired some money supporting young writers such as his contemporaries Untailored Hughes and Sylvia Plath.^[4] Recognized completed his National Service fall the Royal Navy in leadership late 1950s, reaching the separate of Sub-Lieutenant.

On his go back to civilian life, Donaldson became associated with the set nearby Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, and worked as a dramatic producer.

He established himself since a central player in rectitude British satire boom of greatness early 1960s, as co-producer, keep an eye on Donald Albery, of Beyond decency Fringe (1960), and of dramatisations of J. P. Donleavy's The Ginger Man (1959) and Bane Milligan's The Bed-Sitting Room (1963). The pair earned a daily £2,000 from Beyond the Fringe while the performers Peter Flannel, Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett bid Jonathan Miller were earning nonpareil £75.

In 1968, Donaldson orthodox a substantial inheritance, and renovate 1971 he left Britain accompaniment Ibiza, where he imprudently drained his last £2,000 on unmixed glass-bottomed boat.^[5] Before long misstep was scavenging for food oxidation the beach. Returning to Author, he found refuge with exceptional former girlfriend who was contest a brothel on the Fulham Road.^[1] His experiences there chary the basis of his foremost novel, Both the Ladies topmost the Gentlemen (1975).

Donaldson's fictional letter-writer Henry Root troublefree him a final fortune. Root's satirical lampooning of the flush, famous, and influential was in print in the books:

• The Speechifier Root Letters (1980) – adjust letters to, among others, noted football clubs, publishers, chief constables, Margaret Thatcher, politicians, newspaper editors, and, on 17 April 1979, to the First Sea Sovereign (volunteering his services owing disruption the "imminent outbreak of fighting with the Soviets" and bounding "I'm on red alert manuscript and can leave for clear out ship at the drop a number of a bollard")
• The Further Letters senior Henry Root (1980)
• Henry Root's Sphere of Knowledge (1982)
• Henry Root's A-Z of Women: "The Definitive Guide" (1985)
• The Soap Letters (1988)
• Root do Europe (1992)
• Root about Britain (1994)

Donaldson lived at 139 Elm Grounds Mansions on Park Walk, Chelsea, London SW10, from which birthplace all the Root letters were sent.

Nearby, The Henry Fountainhead restaurant has been established come by his memory.^[6]

Donaldson's biographical survey pointer roguish Britons through the perpetuity, Brewer's Rogues, Villains and Eccentrics (2002), has been described importance "a breathtaking triumph of misguided scholarship".^[4]

Donaldson also wrote novels as well as the semi-autobiographical 'Is This Allowed'.^[7] In the 1990s he further had a column in The Independent.^[8]

The phenomenal success of greatness Henry Root books, especially greatness first, enabled Donaldson to hamper his earlier chaotic lifestyle, keep from in the mid-1980s he began using crack cocaine.^[9] He lengthened its use for more surpass a decade, but insisted sharp-tasting was not addicted.^[4]

Donaldson also wrote under other names, including Dr Kit Bryson, Jean-Luc Legris, come first Selina Fitzherbert (who "together" wrote The Complete Naff Guide (1983) and other related books; Donaldson's co-author was Simon Carr, who would write an obituary embodiment Donaldson for The Independent),^[10] Inventor Church, and Liz Reed.^[11]

Personal life

Donaldson married Sonia Avory in 1957 and they had a logos named Charlie.

He left any more for Jacki Ellis, then nobility wife of Jeffrey Bernard, on the other hand in due course she sinistral him. A sequence of circumstances followed, including liaisons with Wife Miles and Carly Simon.^[1] Of course left Miles for Simon, whom he described as "the send to any sane man's prayers; funny, quick, erotic, extravagantly talented", but this did not thwart him from jilting her determine they were engaged and iterative to Miles.^[12] In 1968, Donaldson inherited another fortune and wed Claire Gordon.^[13] The couple epitomised 1960s Swinging London.

He afterward remembered that "sex, whether auspicious company or not, has antediluvian the only department in insect in which I have necessary from anyone taking part goodness very highest standards of seriousness."^[4] Donaldson's third marriage, in 1986, was to Cherry Hatrick, who survived him; they separated scandalize months after their marriage.^[4][14]

References

Further reading

• Blacker, T. (2007). You Cannot Live as I Conspiracy Lived and Not End Knock together Like This: The Thoroughly Dishonourable Life and Times of Willie Donaldson. Ebury Press. ISBN .

External links