In response to Alan Gilsenan’s exceptional piece, “Walking in Samuel Beckett’s footsteps”, published on the 13th of September in the ‘Books’ section, I would like to discuss the photograph that has been frequently used in literary essays, book jackets, and theatre brochures – the one featuring my son and me in the snow-laden mountains of Dublin. This iconic image was captured by the talented David Davison and was titled “Father and Son on a road to nowhere”.
When I first presented this image to Beckett in Paris, acknowledging my misinterpretation of his work ‘Worstward Ho’, I pointed out that it might not be suitable for use in his book due to the erroneous implication of a ‘father and son’ relationship in the quoted text. However, Beckett, moved by the sheer solitude and despair that the image portrayed, was adamant about incorporating it.
Reflecting on this, I realise it highlights Beckett’s tendency to draw from personal experiences and familiar places in his creative pursuits, often disregarding minor inaccuracies. It’s all about the concept, not necessarily the precision of the literal attribution – a true mark of his ingenuity. – Yours sincerely,
Eoin O’Brien
Dun Laoghaire
County Dublin