James Patrick Donleavy was an American-Irish novelist, short story writer, and playwright. He is best known for his novel The Ginger Man, which was initially banned for obscenity. Born to Irish immigrants, Donleavy served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, he moved to Ireland and began studies at Trinity College, Dublin, in 1946, although he left before completing his degree. His work was first published in the Dublin literary periodical, Envoy.