Brendan Behan Manuscript

Collection

Identifier: MSE/IR 1071

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The typescript is a complete short story with the title "A Coat for Confirmation". This appears to be an early draft of Behan's short story "The Confirmation Suit", first published in The Catholic Standard, 27 March, 1953, and later included in Behan's Brendan Behan's Island: An Irish Sketchbook (1962). Ths short story has also been published in school anthologies.

Dates

Creation: circa 1953

Creator

Behan, Brendan (Person)

Language of Materials

Materials in English.

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this item.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright status for collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Biographical / Historical

Brendan Behan (1923-1964) was born in Dublin and became involved in the IRA early in life, and was incarcerated in Hollesley Bay, Suffolk as a youth and later in Mountjoy Jail, Dublin for shooting at a Garda (police officer).

A housepainter by trade, Behan was a playwright, poet, balladmaker and novelist as well as being known as a popular storyteller and singer. He wrote and published in both Irish and English. Among Behan's best-known works are The Quare Fella, An Giall, The Hostage and Borstal Boy. Alcohol was a major problem in Behan's life, and this combined with diabetes brought him to an early death.