“J. P. Donleavy, the American author who skyrocketed to international fame half a century ago with The Ginger Man, his debut novel, remains a cult figure in Ireland, the country that has provided the setting for much of his work.” He lives like a hermit on a palatial estate in the town of Mullingar, and rarely ventures out into the world. But a new film deal and the news that Donleavy, now 80 years old, may be about to sell his papers to a university, has the reclusive author back in the spotlight.