No time for innocence

by Lee Dunne

He recalls the dismal "graveyard with lights" that was Dublin in the fifties. The escape from the grind of daily life came in the pub - and most of all in the dance halls. At 17, he was "on the mail boat for England and the world". The next 15 years were spent in Jersey, back in Ireland as a fit-up actor, as a ship's steward as far away as New Zealand, and in London driving a taxi. All the time he was writing. His big break came with "Goodbye to the Hill" in 1965. Suddenly he was famous, and famously drunk. Lee Dunne was an alcoholic. Just when he had it made, things began falling apart. His marriage collapsed, life spun out of control. And then came the moment of rescue - the moment where this book ends. Packed into these 35 years are adventure, lust for life, love, success and near collapse. Back from the edge Lee Dunne went on to write more plays and books and over 2000 radio shows. But that is another story.

224 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2000