The UCLA Library’s exhibit on J.P. Donleavy wraps around
the edges of the second-floor Powell Library rotunda. People
walking up the stairs toward the circulation desk might miss it,
but if they move a little slower, keep their eyes a little more
open, there’s a chance they’ll figure out what’s
going on.
The setup would probably suit Donleavy just fine. The
American-born but Irish-associating writer of over 20 novels and
plays has long thrived on the fringes of popular culture. His first
and most famous novel, “The Ginger Man,” was published
in 1955 by a press mainly known for its pornographic content.
The library’s exhibit, “God’s Mercy: The Works
of J.P. Donleavy From the Collection of Lawrence Grobel,”
displays a copy of that first edition, along with other editions of
that book and his others. Grobel, an English lecturer and freelance
journalist, met Donleavy in the 1970s when he interviewed him for a
story in Newsday. Since then, Grobel has collected Donleavy’s
books and exchanged letters with the author, some of which are also
on display.
“I discovered Donleavy when I was a UCLA student,”
Grobel said. “Except for James Joyce, the way Donleavy wrote
was so different.”
Since many students aren’t familiar with Donleavy’s
writing, the exhibit also displays excerpts from several of his
works.
“People don’t read a lot of modern novelists, and
this can expose them to an author they may not have heard
of,” said Cathy Brown, the library’s communications and
cultural affairs coordinator.
Brown oversees the production and installation of every exhibit
that goes into Powell’s rotunda. She met Grobel two years ago
when the library did a poetry exhibit involving professors on
campus. Last year, she helped organize an exhibit featuring
Grobel’s collection of signed books.
Though Brown admitted the Donleavy exhibit departs from the
library’s typical exhibit, she agreed to it at Grobel’s
request and because it coincides with the author’s 80th
birthday, April 23. Grobel also hoped to fly Donleavy from his farm
in Ireland to Los Angeles to participate directly.
“He said he would be able to come if we could provide
first-class transportation, but the school could only provide coach
class,” Grobel said. “At his age, why be cramped and
uncomfortable for hours and hours?”
Instead of meeting Donleavy, students will have to experience
him through his words. The author’s brief and staccato style
is extremely unique, and his paragraphs switch between first and
third person seemingly at random. The style doesn’t just
apply to his literary writing ““ his letters read the same
way.
“(Donleavy’s letters) show how his mind
works,” Grobel said. “He has no agent, no publicity
person; he does everything for himself.”
Donleavy’s letters to Grobel immediately classify the
author as a writer consciously and deliberately on the fringe of
popular literary culture. He signs every letter as
“Mike,” even though it’s abundantly clear
there’s no “M” in “J.P.”
“I don’t have the answer to that,” Grobel
said. “If I did, I would have put it in a book. He always
writes me letters as “˜Mike,’ so I said, “˜OK,
he’s Mike.’ It’s part of his
character.”
Though Donleavy’s work may be difficult to grasp at first
attempt, his authorial voice rings remarkably loudly. Both Grobel
and Brown hope the exhibit will introduce a new generation of
readers to his books.
“Writers don’t die,” Grobel said. “They
continue into future generations. Donleavy is worthy enough to
know.”