Behan, Brendan Francis (1923–1964)

Irish writer and dramatist, born in Dublin and educated by the Christian Brothers until the age of 14. Behan's extended family included many talented musicians and writers as well as Republican activists. An important figure of both controversy and literary brilliance, Behan is best known for his autobiography Borstal Boy (1958), based on his experiences of prison and knowledge of the workings of the IRA. These themes are revisited in his play The Quare Fellow (1954), and tragicomedy The Hostage (1958), first written in Gaelic as An Giall. Behan's other output included poetry in Gaelic, radio plays, and some late volumes of reminiscence and anecdote, notably Brendan Behan's New York (1964).

Behan's plays are imbued with black humour and a grim realism; it was largely Joan Littlewood's adaptation of The Hostage for the London stage which imparted to it a strong music-hall sensibility, which includes song and dance. After living a hard life of drinking and being a famous figure of the Dublin literary and pub scene, Behan died young and, many believe, before his best work could be produced.