Flann O'Brien (1911–1966)

https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/the-short-fiction-of-flann-obrien/

It’s a short collection of short pieces by the great man. The most interesting stuff is at the beginning, where he pokes fun at Irish language enthusiasts in a couple of pieces originally written in Irish (and heavily footnoted to explain the humour). Most of the middle section is material being tried out for deployment elsewhere (the story about the young man who was born for Ireland gets used twice).

At the end, Jack Fennell presents a story which he is certain is by a 21-year-old Flann O’Brien, and published in 1932 in, of all places, Hugo Gernsback’s Amazing Stories – “Naval Control”, as by “John Shamus O’Donnell”. He has argued the case further in a recent Journey Planet, and I for one am convinced. How glorious, that Gernsback may have published the future author of The Third Policeman!

To be honest, I think this is really a book for Flann O’Brien completists, but there are a lot of us about, and it comes with a good foreword and scholarly apparatus.… (altro)

This is a hilarious satire which parodies the typical Gaeltacht memoirs published in Ireland after 1922. These books were a mandatory part of the Irish school curriculum and those who went to high school in Ireland in the '80s will forever remember [b:Peig: The Autobiograpy of Peig Sayers of the Great Blasket Island|1998679|Peig The Autobiograpy of Peig Sayers of the Great Blasket Island|Peig Sayers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1447275760l/1998679._SY75_.jpg|671229]. The hardship of life in these remote regions was real, but the Irish have their own unique way of describing it. Tragedy doesn't seem all that bad, because in the end "Shur it'll all be grand". Flann O' Brien takes this to a whole new level in this extremely amusing parody.

Anois caithfidh mé an leagan Gaeilge, [b:An Béal Bocht|1638992|An Béal Bocht|Myles na gCopaleen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1356154219l/1638992._SY75_.jpg|969563] le [a:Myles na gCopaleen|757952|Myles na gCopaleen|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png], a léamh. Fuair mé sa phoist é inné agus tá mé ag súil leis é a chur i gcomparáid leis an aistriúchán Béarla.

… (altro)

‘The Poor Mouth’ is a scathing yet amusing satire squarely aimed at the narratives and custodians of Gaelic Ireland, complete with endless rain, countless meals of potatoes and house shares with sheep and pigs. The protagonist, Bonaparte O’Coonassa, lives in the fictitious village of Corkadoragha where he ambles through a poverty stricken yet mildly philosophical and content life. This is a short, enjoyable read that immerses you in a beautiful, simple yet ridiculous tale which pulsates with Irishness. Without having read O’Brien’s other works yet, I’ve gleaned that this is only moderately surreal in comparison but it was still evidence of skilful writing and a risk-taking, experimental style that made for an engaging read. I’ll definitely be reading his others!… (altro)