15 Facts About Michael Sayers

Michael Sayers was an Irish poet, playwright, writer and journalist whose books co-authored with Albert E Kahn made him a target of US blacklisting during the McCarthyism era of the 1950s.

Michael Sayers wrote scripts for TV in the 1950s, and as a screenwriter in the 1960s for movies including James Bond film Casino Royale.

Michael Sayers was born on 19 December 1911, in Dublin, Ireland, one of four children.

Michael Sayers's father, strongly committed to Irish Republicanism, was a friend of Michael Collins.

Michael Sayers studied briefly at London University and at Trinity College Dublin.

Michael Sayers published poetry and wrote for the theater magazine Motley as well as College Miscellanyas.

Michael Sayers's cousin was the South African activist and journalist, Michael Harmel.

In 1936, Michael Sayers moved to New York City as dramaturge for Norman Bel Geddes.

In March 1944, Michael Sayers published a four-part series of articles entitled "Rise of Anti-Semitic Fifth Column in Eire" in PM newspaper.

In mid-1945, Michael Sayers returned to London, where he saw Orwell, who had just published Animal Farm.

Michael Sayers reclaimed Irish citizenship and was helped to get an Irish passport by Irish writer and diplomat Conor Cruise O'Brien.

Michael Sayers wrote drama series such as The Adventures of Robin Hood, William Tell, and Ivanhoe.

In 1938, Michael Sayers married Mentana Galleani, daughter of the militant Italian anarchist Luigi Galleani.

In 1957, Michael Sayers married Sylvia Thumin and he adopted her son.

Michael Sayers was a gentle, humorous man, who, like many gifted writers of his generation, paid the price for having the wrong opinions at the wrong time in the wrong place, and whose career never quite recovered from the set-back.