The Third Policeman

The Third Policeman - Paperback

$18.95
Sale price  $18.95 Regular price 
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The Third Policeman

The Third Policeman - Paperback

by Flann O'Brien
$18.95
Sale price  $18.95 Regular price 

Book Overview

The Third Policeman is Flann O'Brien's brilliantly dark comic novel about the nature of time, death, and existence.


Told by a narrator who has committed a botched robbery and brutal murder, the novel follows him and his adventures in a two-dimensional police station where, through the theories of the scientist/philosopher de Selby, he is introduced to "Atomic Theory" and its relation to bicycles, the existence of eternity (which turns out to be just down the road), and de Selby's view that the earth is not round but "sausage-shaped." With the help of his newly found soul named "Joe, " he grapples with the riddles and contradictions that three eccentric policeman present to him.


The last of O'Brien's novels to be published, The Third Policeman joins O'Brien's other fiction (At Swim-Two-Birds, The Poor Mouth, The Hard Life, and The Dalkey Archive) to ensure his place, along with James Joyce and Samuel Beckett, as one of Ireland's great comic geniuses.

ISBN9781628975772
Author Flann O'Brien
PublisherDalkey Archive Press
GenreLiterature
FormatPaperback
PublishedAugust 2024
LanguageENG- English
Pages215
Weight1.0 lb
Target AudienceAdults
Print SizeStandard Print

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About Flann O'Brien

Flann O'Brien, whose real name was Brian O'Nolan, also wrote under the pen name of Myles na Gopaleen. He was born in 1911 in County Tyrone. A resident of Dublin, he graduated from University College after a brilliant career as a student (editing a magazine called Blather) and joined the Civil Service, in which he eventually attained a senior position. He wrote throughout his life, which ended in Dublin on April 1, 1966. His other novels include The Dalkey Archive, The Third Policeman, The Hard Life, and The Poor Mouth, all available from Dalkey Archive Press. Also available are three volumes of his newspaper columns: The Best of Myles, Further Cuttings from Cruiskeen Lawn, and At War. Ralph Steadman was born in 1936. He began his career as a cartoonist, and through the years has diversified into many creative fields. Ralph collaborated with Dr Hunter S. Thompson in the birth of 'gonzo' journalism, with "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"; he has illustrated classics such as "Alice in Wonderland", "Treasure Island" and "Animal Farm, "and written and illustrated his own books, which include "Sigmund Freud", "I Leonardo" and "The Big I Am". Steadman is also a printmaker, and has travelled the world's vineyards, culminating in his books "The Grapes of Ralph", "Untrodden Grapes" and "Still Life with Bottle. Powers grew up in Tipperary County, Ireland, where he was a teacher in Ballyneale National School.

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