Hugh Leonard (1926-2009) was regarded as one of the foremost Irish dramatists of his generation. Born and educated in Dublin, he went on to write for theatre and television, adapting many novels for both British and Irish television, including Nicholas Nickelby, Wuthering Heights and Strumpet City. While most of his plays were performed first in Dublin, several were mounted in Broadway, including Da (1978) for which Leonard won both a Tony and a Desk Drama Award for Best Play.
