The Lieutenant Of Inishmore by Martin McDonagh

The play is a darkly comedic tale set on the Irish island of Inishmore, where we meet Padraic, a violent Irish National Liberation Army enforcer who is more concerned with the welfare of his cat, Wee Thomas, than the human casualties of his day job. When he receives news that his beloved cat is doing poorly, he rushes home, only to find the pet has been killed. This sets off a chain of bloody events as Padraic seeks revenge, leading to an absurdly gruesome climax. The narrative satirizes the political tensions of Ireland and the cyclical nature of violence, all while exploring themes of loyalty, brutality, and the absurdity of extremism.

The 10355th greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 27

Since this book was first published in 2001, there is a penalty of 43.2%. The age adjusted score is 15.34.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.