Flann O'Brien
Flann O'Brien, whose real name was Brian O'Nolan, was an Irish novelist and satirist, considered a major figure in twentieth-century Irish literature. He is best known for his novels 'At Swim-Two-Birds' and 'The Third Policeman'.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. At Swim Two-Birds
This novel is a complex, metafictional work that weaves together three separate narratives. The first is about a lazy, hard-drinking college student living with his uncle, the second is about a devilish Pooka and a loquacious old man, and the third is about a fictional character named Finn who seeks revenge on his author for creating him poorly. The narratives eventually intersect in a unique and humorous way, challenging traditional ideas of story structure and character autonomy.
The 356th Greatest Book of All Time -
2. The Third Policeman
"The Third Policeman" is a darkly comedic and surreal novel about a nameless narrator who, after committing a murder to raise funds for his scholarly obsession with a bizarre pseudo-scientific theory, finds himself wandering in an eerie, nightmarish landscape. He encounters strange characters, including a pair of eccentric policemen who are obsessed with bicycles, and becomes embroiled in a series of increasingly absurd and ludicrous situations. The novel explores themes of existence, reality, and the nature of hell, with a twist ending that forces the reader to question everything they've read.
The 526th Greatest Book of All Time -
3. The Dalkey Archive
In this satirical and surreal novel, the narrative weaves through a series of bizarre events in a small Irish town, where the protagonist encounters a reclusive scientist who has devised a way to suck all the oxygen out of the atmosphere, potentially ending the world. Meanwhile, characters including a philosopher who is rumored to be dead, a policeman obsessed with enforcing bicycle licenses, and a young man seeking to enter the priesthood, all contribute to the absurd and philosophical musings on existence, Irish identity, and the nature of reality. The book blends dark humor with deep existential questions, creating a unique tapestry that challenges the reader's perception of normalcy and the fabric of fiction.
The 11733rd Greatest Book of All Time -
4. El Tercer Policía
The novel is a darkly comic and surreal exploration of guilt, identity, and the nature of reality. It follows an unnamed narrator who becomes embroiled in a bizarre and nightmarish world after committing a murder for the sake of a mysterious manuscript. As he navigates a strange landscape filled with eccentric characters, including a peculiar police force obsessed with bicycles and atomic theory, the narrator grapples with existential questions and the consequences of his actions. The narrative blurs the lines between the real and the absurd, ultimately leading to a mind-bending and cyclical conclusion that challenges the reader's perception of truth and existence.
