3.5
The Third Policeman
By Flann O'BrienPublisher Description
One man wants to publish, so another must perish, in this darkly witty philosophical novel by “a spectacularly gifted comic writer” (Newsweek).
The Third Policeman follows a narrator who is obsessed with the work of a scientist and philosopher named de Selby (who believes that Earth is not round but sausage-shaped)—and has finally completed what he believes is the definitive text on the subject. But, broke and desperate for money to get his scholarly masterpiece published, he winds up committing robbery—and murder.
From here, this remarkably imaginative dark comedy proceeds into a world of riddles, contradictions, and questions about the nature of eternity as our narrator meets some policemen with an obsession of their own (specifically, bicycles), and engages in an extended conversation with his dead victim—and his own soul, which he nicknames Joe.
By the celebrated Irish author praised by James Joyce as “a real writer, with the true comic spirit,” The Third Policeman is an incomparable work of fiction.
“’Tis the odd joke of modern Irish literature—of the three novelists in its holy trinity, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett and Flann O’Brien, the easiest and most accessible of the lot is O’Brien. . . . Flann O’Brien was too much his own man, Ireland’s man, to speak in any but his own tongue.” —The Washington Post
The Third Policeman follows a narrator who is obsessed with the work of a scientist and philosopher named de Selby (who believes that Earth is not round but sausage-shaped)—and has finally completed what he believes is the definitive text on the subject. But, broke and desperate for money to get his scholarly masterpiece published, he winds up committing robbery—and murder.
From here, this remarkably imaginative dark comedy proceeds into a world of riddles, contradictions, and questions about the nature of eternity as our narrator meets some policemen with an obsession of their own (specifically, bicycles), and engages in an extended conversation with his dead victim—and his own soul, which he nicknames Joe.
By the celebrated Irish author praised by James Joyce as “a real writer, with the true comic spirit,” The Third Policeman is an incomparable work of fiction.
“’Tis the odd joke of modern Irish literature—of the three novelists in its holy trinity, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett and Flann O’Brien, the easiest and most accessible of the lot is O’Brien. . . . Flann O’Brien was too much his own man, Ireland’s man, to speak in any but his own tongue.” —The Washington Post
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities89 Reviews
3.5
Raven
Created 15 days agoShare
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Likable charactersBeautifully writtenDescriptive writingFunny writingOriginal writingTwistyUnpredictableImmersive settingComicalThought-provoking
Kevin
Created 15 days agoShare
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“I don't like nonsense writing but the audiobook of this is unbelievably good, an infectious blend of wit and weirdness. 'I didn't know these happenings happend."”Ishani Guha-Shepherd
Created 28 days agoShare
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“A vivid, absurd, philosophical and descrptive story set in early wartime Ireland.
Firstly I am astounded that the manuscript was rejected and such was the feeling if rejection, that the author deemed it 'lost' and it was published posthumously. Secondly the humour is on an incredible level, subtle but evident in the thoughts and actions of the characters and their surroundings. To say to much will incur spoilers. This is very much a book where in the world of the damned and dead - rules and laws (not even the law of gravity) hold good. All that there is scope for is back-chat and funny cracks (adapted from a quote by the author).”Reviewed in:Gothic Book Club
Likable charactersMulti-layered charactersFunny writingOriginal writingUnpredictableRealistic settingComicalDark
Beautifully writtenFunny writingOriginal writingUnpredictable
Rebecca Rash
Created about 1 month agoShare
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“4.25 if you can muscle it out to the end 😂😂😂 this is my hell for sure. I knew I hated bikes.”DarkThought-provoking
About Flann O'Brien
Flann O’Brien is a pseudonym for Brian O’Nolan (1911–1966), an Irish novelist, playwright, and satirist. Born in Strabane, County Tyrone, he is regarded as a key figure in postmodern literature. His English language novels, such as At Swim-Two-Birds and The Third Policeman, were written under the pen name Flann O’Brien. His many satirical columns in the Irish Times and an Irish language novel An Béal Bocht were written under the name Myles na gCopaleen. O’Nolan’s novels have attracted a wide following for their bizarre humor and modernist metafiction.
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