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Flann O'Brien Reader
1978 Viking
447 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1978
About the author
Flann O'Brien
67 books831 followersPseudonym of
Brian Ó Nualláin
, also known as Brian O'Nolan.
His English novels appeared under the name of Flann O’Brien, while his great Irish novel and his newspaper column (which appeared from 1940 to 1966) were signed Myles na gCopaleen or Myles na Gopaleen – the second being a phonetic rendering of the first. One of twelve brothers and sisters, he was born in 1911 in Strabane, County Tyrone, into an Irish-speaking family. His father had learned Irish while a young man during the Gaelic revival the son was later to mock. O’Brien’s childhood has been described as happy, though somewhat insular, as the language spoken at home was not that spoken by their neighbours. The Irish language had long been in decline, and Strabane was not in an Irish-speaking part of the country. The family moved frequently during O’Brien’s childhood, finally settling in Dublin in 1925. Four years later O’Brien took up study in University College Dublin.
Flann O'Brien is considered a major figure in twentieth century Irish literature. Flann O'Brien novels have attracted a wide following for their bizarre humour and Modernist metafiction.
The café and shop of Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich (www.culturlann.ie), at the heart of the Belfast Gaeltacht Quarter, is named An Ceathrú Póilí ("The Fourth Policeman"), as a play-on-words of the title of O'Brien's book The Third Policeman.
His English novels appeared under the name of Flann O’Brien, while his great Irish novel and his newspaper column (which appeared from 1940 to 1966) were signed Myles na gCopaleen or Myles na Gopaleen – the second being a phonetic rendering of the first. One of twelve brothers and sisters, he was born in 1911 in Strabane, County Tyrone, into an Irish-speaking family. His father had learned Irish while a young man during the Gaelic revival the son was later to mock. O’Brien’s childhood has been described as happy, though somewhat insular, as the language spoken at home was not that spoken by their neighbours. The Irish language had long been in decline, and Strabane was not in an Irish-speaking part of the country. The family moved frequently during O’Brien’s childhood, finally settling in Dublin in 1925. Four years later O’Brien took up study in University College Dublin.
Flann O'Brien is considered a major figure in twentieth century Irish literature. Flann O'Brien novels have attracted a wide following for their bizarre humour and Modernist metafiction.
The café and shop of Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich (www.culturlann.ie), at the heart of the Belfast Gaeltacht Quarter, is named An Ceathrú Póilí ("The Fourth Policeman"), as a play-on-words of the title of O'Brien's book The Third Policeman.
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July 12, 2012
The Five Horsemen of the Apocalypse
AP News Story: Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse to Recruit a Fifth
Due to constant and continual growth in world population, Conquest, War, Famine, and Death, otherwise known as The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, have decided to recruit a fifth horseman effective immediately.
"We feel that we cannot ravage, kill, or plunder properly as a collective of four," noted Conquest during a recent Better Homes and Gardens photo shoot, adding "We are simply just spread too thin; winged horses and flaming swords are cool and all but we need numbers. I mean, I'm booked all through my Summer Holiday."
"My schedule, too, is murder," joked Death later during a United Nations conference call. "I need to be in Scotland later this morning, Canada by noon, and then back over to Scotland to catch the end of a Glasgow Ranger match. Sheesh!"
Saying "Thank you, but no..." to the employment advances of an opportunistic and relatively tanned George Hamilton, the gruesome foursome then unanimously selected the most vile heathen that they could think of; the foulest antichrist creature that the world has ever known.
The newly-crowned Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse, Barbra Joan Streisand, was unavailable for comment.
AP News Story: Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse to Recruit a Fifth
Due to constant and continual growth in world population, Conquest, War, Famine, and Death, otherwise known as The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, have decided to recruit a fifth horseman effective immediately.
"We feel that we cannot ravage, kill, or plunder properly as a collective of four," noted Conquest during a recent Better Homes and Gardens photo shoot, adding "We are simply just spread too thin; winged horses and flaming swords are cool and all but we need numbers. I mean, I'm booked all through my Summer Holiday."
"My schedule, too, is murder," joked Death later during a United Nations conference call. "I need to be in Scotland later this morning, Canada by noon, and then back over to Scotland to catch the end of a Glasgow Ranger match. Sheesh!"
Saying "Thank you, but no..." to the employment advances of an opportunistic and relatively tanned George Hamilton, the gruesome foursome then unanimously selected the most vile heathen that they could think of; the foulest antichrist creature that the world has ever known.
The newly-crowned Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse, Barbra Joan Streisand, was unavailable for comment.
Displaying 1 of 1 review