SOMEHOW you'd expect Samuel Beckett's official biographer to be quiet and brooding, given to deep meaningful silences and pregnant pauses. Then you meet Jim Knowlson. He was in Dublin this week at the National Gallery for the launch of his book Damned to Fame. The Life of Samuel Beckett, and in his voluble speech talked of his 20 year relationship with the great writer, causing more than one person's brow to furrow as they tried to visualise meetings between the chatterbox author (who bears a startling resemblance to Colonel Sanders of finger lickin' fame) and his brooding subject.
The British ambassador Veronica Sutherland was at the launch, as were artists Anne Madden and Louis le Brocquy and there was a strong Gate Theatre presence including Anne Clarke and Marie Rooney. After the speeches in the gallery's airy new atrium, actor Barry McGovern proved himself well able for the difficult acoustics and read very entertainingly from Mare Pricks Than Kicks.
Beckett's niece Caroline Beckett Murphy was there with her husband Paddy, as were several members of the Roe family, who are related to Beckett through his mother's side of the family.
The book, which was launched in London last week, is such a sell-out that the publishers have already ordered a re-print almost unheard of success for a literary biography. After the launch the party moved to Milan's pizza place on Dawson Street for a very informal dinner.
