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Description edit
Brendan Behan was an Irish playwright and novelist, as well as a youthful revolutionary. In 1939, at age 16, he was arrested in Liverpool with a suitcase full of high explosives. BORSTAL BOY is the autobiographical record of Behan's experiences from that day through his imprisonment,... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Charlie Garland: Add a description of this character.
- Paddy
- Joe
- Behan
- Tom Meadows
- Leslie
- Dale Street
- Cragg
- Harty
- James
- Ken Jones
- Chewlips
- Murray
- Sullivan
- Johnston
- Knowlesy
- Walton
- Hanson
- Callan
- Vereker
- Ickey Baldock
- Parry
- Mr Whitbread
- Ginger
- Mr Holmes
- Shaw
- Donohoe
- Littlewood
- Richardson
- Tessie O'shea
- Fred
- Geordie
- Brendan
- Heath
- Andrew
- Rosaleen
- Mooney
- Tubby
- Jonesy
- Pat
- Sherwood
- Shackleton
Quotes edit
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“"My name is Brendan Behan. I came over here to fight for the Irish Workers' and Small Farmers' Republic, for a full and free life, for my countrymen, North and South, and for the removal of the baneful influence of British Imperialism from Irish affairs. God save Ireland."<...> The left-wing element in the movement would be delighted, and the others, the craw-thumpers, could not say anything against me, because I was a good Volunteer, captured carrying the struggle to England's doorstep - but they would be hopping mad at me giving everyone the impression that the IRA was Communistic.”
Brendan Behan -
“I could not even walk, but sat huddled on the bed in my blankets, with tears in my mind and in my heart, and wishing I could wake up and find out that I had only been dreaming this, and could wake up at home <...>”
Brendan Behan -
“Grip tight and hold on, said Tom Clarke. I'd do my best. Clarke held on for fifteen years, and lived to fight the bastards on more equal terms in Easter Week.”
Brendan Behan -
“By plantation, famine and massacre you have striven to drive the people of Ireland from off the soil of Ireland, but in seven centuries you have not succeeded. Many times have you announced that you had stamped out the rebels, that "you had terrorism by the throat", that you had settled the "Irish Question". But there is but the one settlement to the Irish Question, and until the 32 county Republic of Ireland is once more functioning, Ireland unfree shall never be at peace. God save Ireland. No surrender.”
Brendan Behan
First Sentence edit
Friday, in the evening, the landlady shouted up the stairs:"Oh God, oh Jesus, oh Sacred Heart. Boy, there's two gentlemen to see you."
Series & Lists edit
This is book 475 of 1272 in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. (authoritative list)
Preceded by Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris, and followed by The End of the Road.
Authors & Contributors edit
- Brendan Behan (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Hutchinson
Country: Add the country of publication.
Publication Date: 1958
ISBN: Add the ISBN.
Page Count: 342
Publisher: Hutchinson
Country: Add the country of publication.
Publication Date: 1958
ISBN: Add the ISBN.
Page Count: 342
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 365.94264
Subjects edit
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