In 1988, the British literary scene was rocked by the publication of London-Irishman John Healy’s extraordinary memoir about his life as a wino, The Grass Arena. It won the top prize in England that year for literary autobiography. It was turned into an award-winning BBC film. John Healy told of his decades-long submersion in the violent chaotic alcoholic homeless subculture in England. Even more extraordinary, during one of Healy’s prison stays, he was taught the game of chess. He never took a drink after that and went on to become a chess master. The Grass Arena was hailed as a “masterpiece” by Irvine Welsh, Harold Pinter sang its praises, John Healy was everywhere.He was interviewed in both the national and the international press. He was on television talk shows. He was a star.
Since then? Silence. And a warehouse full of rumors about John Healy’s violent behavior. Any truth to the rumors? Why has his book been allowed to go out of print, despite clear audience demand?
What the hell happened? Had this celebrated author been blackballed for some mysterious reason?
Irish filmmaker Paul Duane (I reviewed his documentary Natan here), who, like so many others, had been blown away by The Grass Arena when he first read it, wanted to find out.
Barbaric Genius, Duane’s documentary about John Healy, is set to be released in the States on Hulu and Netflix later this summer (it already got a cinematic release in the UK.) You can rent it on iTunes. I highly recommend it.
I interviewed both Paul Duane and John Healy for Rogerebert.com.
I read The Grass Arena in 2005, and it was one of my favorite reads of the year. I’m really excited about this documentary. I remember feeling worried about Healy, even after he traded chess for the bottle.
Bybee – I’m so thrilled for you to see this film then!
It made me so angry, what was done to him. He’s a writer. He needs to be back in print again.
And yes, wasn’t Grass Arena just amazing?
Have you written about The Grass Arena on your site? I’ll go look!
I went straight to my Netflix account and searched Barbaric Genius, Paul Duane, and John Healy. Nothing comes up! What’s wrong with those people–here you’ve given them great pre-pub, and they’re tossing it away. But thanks for the review and interviews. I will find a way to see the movie.
Bill- it’s not on Netflix yet, that’s why! US Netflix release probably in August. For now it’s available on iTunes.
Would love to hear your thoughts on it !
Will post an update when I know the Netflix release date!
For those who are interested, here is the Barbaric Genius page on iTunes, where you can rent it.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/barbaric-genius/id828929410
I cannot believe his publisher actually destroyed copies of his book! I am now outraged for him as well. Can’t wait to see the film when it becomes available.
It is completely outrageous. Put that book back in print. Let him publish his damn novel. This is ridiculous. Petty punishment.
Look forward to hearing your thoughts when you see the film, Rachel!
I just finished watching this. First off, what an impressive man John Healy is. He seems to simply decide to do things and then achieves major successes. The guy might even end up transcending the rational mind. And I loved how Harry The Fox seduced him into learning chess, likening it to burgling, without jail time as the downside.
The editor, Megan Larkin, acknowledged that he had been treated wrongly, and then she seemed overwhelmed at the kind note she wrote to John – perhaps not having recalled if she followed through in acknowledging his mistreatment at the time, or merely thought it.
Is there a smaller man than Robert McCrum walking around?
Did Penguin Classics not publish this in the US? I can only see used copies for sale on Amazon.
Mutecypher – I’m so glad you saw it! Yes, John Healy is amazing. When the yoga thing came out in the film, and you saw him doing those yoga poses – that’s really when I was like: “Okay. This guy is operating on some other level of consciousness entirely.”
He decides to do something – and he not only does it well – but he becomes a champion. I mean, incredible.
I loved Harry the Fox’s words on chess!!
That interview with the editor (I think she was in the translation department at the time of Healy’s time there) was so moving. She sensed that he needed to be handled a different way – he just needed someone to TALK to him.
And yes, could you believe that interview with McCrum? Unbelievable. I remember watching it thinking, “Why on earth did he agree to be interviewed? Didn’t he realize he would come across looking like THAT?”
I am not sure about Penguin Classics – I had the same experience you did trying to find a copy. I had to buy a second-hand one. It may have been a small print run, and only in England/Ireland. I’ll ask Paul – he might know.
Sheila, thanks so much for this terrific piece. For those who are looking for The Grass Arena in the US, it’s never been published there – you can get a Kindle edition however, otherwise you’re looking at import prices or 2nd hand copies I’m afraid. But it’s worth it!
Paul – thanks so much for looking into it!
So yes, to those who would like to read it: I got mine second-hand, and it didn’t cost much – went through one of the vendors on Amazon. And yes: definitely worth it!
The Grass Arena is great stuff, but unfortunately Healy was never a chess master. He was an average club player, at best. This is very well known among the English chess community. He appears in rating lists from the Seventies and is recalled by people who played him. It is, I’m afraid, not possible that he was a “master”, or that he won “major titles”. Healy’s story is a great one, but like many stories it has grown in the telling.