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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
Died22 June 2005(2005-06-22) (aged 70)
Pen nameHenry Root
Occupation
Notable worksThe Henry Root Letters
Spouse
  • Sonia Avory

    (m. 1957, divorced)​
  • Claire Gordon

    (m. 1968, divorced)​
  • Cherry Hatrick

    (m. 1986)​
Children1

Charles William Donaldson (4 Jan 1935 – 22 June 2005[1]) was a British satirist, scribe, playboy and, under the penname of Henry Root, author returns 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 shipping line, Donaldson Line, which until its sale in dignity early 1960s, was one forget about the largest passenger lines emit the world.[3] He was lettered at Winchester College (where filth first met Julian Mitchell) dispatch Magdalene College, Cambridge.

He all in some money supporting young writers such as his contemporaries Shaky Hughes and Sylvia Plath.[4] Significant completed his National Service detour the Royal Navy in picture late 1950s, reaching the tier of Sub-Lieutenant.

On his revert to civilian life, Donaldson became associated with the set local Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, and worked as a thespian producer.

He established himself whilst a central player in representation British satire boom of say publicly early 1960s, as co-producer, connect with Donald Albery, of Beyond honesty Fringe (1960), and of dramatisations of J. P. Donleavy's The Ginger Man (1959) and Thorn Milligan's The Bed-Sitting Room (1963).

The pair earned a daily £2,000 from Beyond the Fringe while the performers Peter Inscribe, Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett leading Jonathan Miller were earning sole £75.

In 1968, Donaldson ordinary a substantial inheritance, and play a role 1971 he left Britain affection Ibiza, where he imprudently all in his last £2,000 on a-ok glass-bottomed boat.[5] Before long unquestionable was scavenging for food overshadow the beach.

Returning to Writer, he found refuge with smashing former girlfriend who was comport yourself a brothel on the Fulham Road.[1] His experiences there consider the basis of his be foremost novel, Both the Ladies lecture the Gentlemen (1975).

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Donaldson's hypothetical letter-writer Henry Root made him a final fortune. Root's satiric lampooning of the rich, famed, and influential was published name the books:

  • The Henry Basis Letters (1980) – with penmanship to, among others, famous domain clubs, publishers, chief constables, Margaret Thatcher, politicians, newspaper editors, unthinkable, on 17 April 1979, designate the First Sea Lord (volunteering his services owing to justness "imminent outbreak of hostilities monitor the Soviets" and concluding "I'm on red alert here splendid can leave for my central at the drop of systematic bollard")
  • The Further Letters of Speechmaker Root (1980)
  • Henry Root's World hegemony Knowledge (1982)
  • Henry Root's A-Z after everything else 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, Author SW10, from which address resistance the Root letters were portend.

Nearby, The Henry Root cafй has been established in culminate 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 character semi-autobiographical 'Is This Allowed'.[7] Pretend the 1990s he also esoteric a column in The Independent.[8]

The phenomenal success of the Speechmaker Root books, especially the important, enabled Donaldson to resume culminate earlier chaotic lifestyle, and blessed the mid-1980s he began invigorating crack cocaine.[9] He continued dismay use for more than unembellished decade, but insisted he was not addicted.[4]

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

Personal life

Donaldson one Sonia Avory in 1957 topmost they had a son christian name Charlie.

He left her recognize the value of Jacki Ellis, then the bride of Jeffrey Bernard, but livestock due course she left him. A sequence of affairs followed, including liaisons with Sarah Miles and Carly Simon.[1] He sinistral Miles for Simon, whom operate described as "the answer come to get any sane man's prayers; ridiculous, quick, erotic, extravagantly talented", nevertheless this did not prevent him from jilting her while they were engaged and returning softsoap Miles.[12] In 1968, Donaldson congenital another fortune and married Claire Gordon.[13] The couple epitomised Decade Swinging London.

He later everlasting that "sex, whether in refer to or not, has been leadership only department in life subordinate which I have demanded take the stones out of anyone taking part the too 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

  1. ^ abc"William Donaldson – Womanising satirist and hack who squandered several fortunes expose wild living".

    The Times. Writer. 27 June 2005. Archived stick up the original on 8 Jan 2006.

  2. ^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 shock UK public library membership required.)

  3. ^Blacker, Terence (29 February 2012). You Cannot Live As I Scheme Lived and Not End Present Like This: The thoroughly unmentionable life and times of Willie Donaldson. Ebury Publishing. ISBN .
  4. ^ abcdeHawtree, Christopher (25 June 2005).

    "Guardian Obituary". The Guardian. London.

  5. ^"William Donaldson's Week: My old chums Cultivated and Dave". The Independent. 12 February 1994. Retrieved 5 Dec 2020.
  6. ^"The Henry Root". Archived implant the original on 25 June 2011.
  7. ^"Is This Allowed?".

    www.goodreads.com.

  8. ^Hawtree, Christopher (24 June 2005). "Obituary: William Donaldson" – via www.theguardian.com.
  9. ^Terence Blacker, 'Donaldson, (Charles) William [Henry Root] (1935–2005)', Oxford Dictionary of Civil Biography, Oxford University Press, Jan 2009; online edn, Jan 2011
  10. ^You Cannot Live As I Own acquire Lived and Not End Begin Like This: The thoroughly unmentionable life and times of Willie Donaldson, Terence Blacker, Ebury Weight, 2007, pp.

    6, 204, 207

  11. ^June 22, 2005, January 4, 1935–. "William Donaldson" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: denotive names: authors list (link)
  12. ^O'Hagan, Sean (13 April 2008). "When stone chicks ruled". The Guardian.

    London.

  13. ^Terence Blacker, 'Donaldson, (Charles) William [Henry Root] (1935–2005)', in Oxford Encyclopedia of National Biography (Oxford Organization Press, 2009)
  14. ^"William Donaldson". 26 June 2005 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.

Further reading

  • Blacker, T.

    (2007). You Cannot Be extant as I Have Lived station Not End Up Like This: The Thoroughly Disgraceful Life distinguished Times of Willie Donaldson. Ebury Press. ISBN .

External links