At swimtwobirds is a marvel of imagination, language, and humor. It was stated that while the novel and the play were both pleasing intellectual exercises, the novel was inferior to the play inasmuch as it lacked the outward accidents of illusion, frequently inducing the reader to be outwitted in a shabby fashion and caused to experience a real concern for the. Atswimtwobirds is a book written by brian onolan, who is an irish author. A resident of dublin, he graduated from university college after a brilliant career as a student editing a magazine called blather. This novel, which plays havoc with the conventional novel form, is about a man writing a book about characters in turn writing about him. One of the bestkept secrets of 20thcentury literature, at swimtwobirds is ostensibly a novel about a lazy, impoverished college student whos writing a novel one beginning and one ending for a book is a thing i did not agree with, he opines, but his characters wont stay put, and they get mixed up with all kinds of local dublin. At swimtwobirds presents itself as a firstperson story by an unnamed irish student of literature. Text is clean and free of marks, binding tight and solid, boards clean with no wear present. Because this project is categorized as in development, the data is only available on. One beginning and one ending for a book was a thing i. The vibrant force of storytelling in flann obriens excellent first novel at swimtwobirds threatens to overwhelm reader and narrator alikeand what a strange joy it is to be overwhelmed. Jan 29, 2019 during the approach to the second world war brian onolan wrote two novels in english under the penname flann obrien, both of which are closely connected with bombs.
Top american libraries canadian libraries universal library community texts project gutenberg biodiversity heritage library childrens library. His mastery of modernist collage would have been an ample. The main characters of this fiction, european literature story are. An unnamed student, living with his uncle and working not very hard to finish his schooling, begins writing a novel. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. A novel and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. The book was published on march 1939, but did not sell well. At the time its form perplexed me and its content struck me as bizarre and surreal.
The author, whose real name was brian onolan, had successfully stirred gaelic legend, pulp fiction, and grimy dublin realism into a hilarious cocktail. At swim two birds has remained in my mind ever since it firstappeared as one of the best books of our century. That, in any case, is what is written in flann obriens novel, at swimtwobirds. Flann obriens at swimtwobirds dalkey archive press. At swim two birdsis both a comedy and a fantasy of such staggering originality that itbaffles description and very nearly beggars our sense of. Longman s, meanwhile, had turned down onolans second novel, the third. At swimtwobirds by flann obrien and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Onolan suggests using flann obrien as a penname during negotiation. The first edition of the novel was published in 1939, and was written by flann obrien. At swimtwobirds flann obrien new american library, 1966 pp.
A wildly comic sendup of irish literature and culture, at swimtwobirds is the story of a young, lazy, and frequently drunk irish college student who lives with his curmudgeonly uncle in dublin. A student of novels such as at swimtwobirds or the third. Frontier instability in flann obriens at swimtwobirds monique. Snamhdaen, as it is called in gaelic, is located on the banks of the shannon river in the middle of ireland. At swimtwobirds was accepted for publication by longmans on the recommendation of graham greene, who was a reader for them at the time.
After the war, in america, at swimtwobirds was republished by pantheon books in 1950, but sales remained low. At swim, two boys 2001 is a novel by irish writer jamie oneill. Treating the literary literally harvest university of saskatchewan. Citations in this study guide refer to the following edition of the book. At swim two birds is now recognised as one of the most significant modernist novels before 1945. The novels title derives from snamh da en middle ir lit. If, as brendan behan described it, at swimtwobirds is three books in one, it is not easy to distinguish. Flann obrien, quote from at swim two birds one beginning and one ending for a book was a thing i did not agree with. After a brilliant student career at university college, dublin, he did linguistic research in germany and then joined the irish civil service.
This is a book that begins by questioning why a book should have just one opening. At swim, two boys is much more than a comingofage story of two boys finding each other. At swimtwobirds has remained in my mind ever since it firstappeared as one of the best books of our century. Buy a cheap copy of at swimtwobirds book by flann obrien.
Swimtwobirds is an irish public house of the kind that is fast. Despite the fact of its being one of the laughoutloud funniest, most absurdly and grossly comedic, most intelligent novels ive ever read, at swim two birds is simultaneously profoundly cruel, cruelly profound, unsettling, and causes such a discord with the idea of imaginative reality and authority. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 239 pages and is available in paperback format. In the last pages of the book the narrator makes the shocking dis. Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this at swim two birds study guide and get instant access to the following.
This is a book about a book about a man writing a book about characters who write a book about him. The novel has been made a part of two 100 best novels lists so. Buy at swimtwobirds penguin modern classics by obrien, flann from amazons fiction books store. When not in bed where he seems to spend most of his time or reading he is composing a mischieffilled novel about dermot trellis, a secondrate author whose characters. Flann obrien is one of irelands most important authors, and at swimtwobirds, with its brilliant wit and unique style, is one of his bestknown works. Dec 08, 2014 after the war, in america, at swimtwobirds was republished by pantheon books in 1950, but sales remained low. And is one even sure that there are only three books under this title. Longmans warehouse, containing the unsold copies of the novel, was. More inclined to satirical dalliance than cyril connelly, whom he resembles, the author gleefully weaves and bobs his way in a sternelike fashion through styles and modes in irish literature. At swimtwobirds is a 1939 novel by irish author brian onolan, writing under the pseudonym flann obrien.
Penguin books at swim two birds flann obrien is the pseudonym of brian o nuallain, who was born in 1911. The native writings to which i had been exposed were the short prose works that bulked out the english and gaelic syllabi tales of catholic piety gently triumphing over temptation, accounts of. An opening leaf for the longmans, green and company edition carries a disclaimer. Longmans premises in london were destroyed by a real bomb, and with them the remaining. Mar, 2018 at swimtwobirds is accepted for publication by longman on the recommendation of graham greene, who is a reader for them at the time. So i give you at swim two birds a curious little irish novel that i picked off a list more or less because the unusual title caught my eye. Longman s, who explained that they wanted obrien to become less fantastic and.
At swim two birds is a book written by brian onolan, who is an irish author. Graham greene called at swimtwobirds one of the best books of our century. It is published under the pseudonym of flann obrien, a name onolan had already used to write hoax letters to the irish times. When the book came out in the spring of 1939, all concerned were full of hope. While reading this book, i very often felt that this is actually only a secondary side of the storyline. Flann obrien 19111966, whose real name was brian onolan, also wrote under the pen name of myles na gopaleen. Foster once upon a time, a young man from dublin wrote a very odd novel called, oddly, at swimtwobirds. On top of the download at swimtwobirds ebook pdf free. Graham greene has given this effective bit of literary inbreeding a mighty sendoff, and in the limited circle to which this book will gravitate there will be many assenting voices. Longmans, meanwhile, had turned down o nolans second novel, the third policeman, to. Longmans, green and co publisher contact information. When not in bed where he seems to spend most of his time. His masterpiece, at swim two birds 1939, went almost unrecognized in its time. Hitler was not known for a sense of humor, and at swim two birds, which was finally republished in 1960, is perhaps the most subversive and ridiculously funny books in the.
Graham greene if i were a cultural dictator in england i would make at swim two birds compulsory reading in all universities. It has been praised and ignored, destroyed and resurrected. Flann obrien abebooks abebooks shop for books, art. In a 1938 letter to a literary agent, flann obrien described his first novel as a very queer affair, unbearably queer perhaps. Apr 17, 2008 at swimtwobirds anticipates the experimental metaliterature of today dave eggers, for example, owes a great debt to at swimtwobirds, with his narrator that suddenly steps forward, looks right at the reader, and starts addressing us directly.
Enjoy reading 224 pages by starting download or read online at swim two birds. If, as brendan behan described it, at swim two birds is three books in one, it is not easy to distinguish the limits of those three books. The title is a punning allusion to flann obriens at swim two birds. Pdf observations on flann obriens at swimtwobirds in.
The independent ireland of which at swimtwobirds is an ambiguous. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. So i give you at swim twobirds a curious little irish novel that i picked off a list more or less because the unusual title caught my eye. Graham greene called at swim two birds one of the best books of our century. Dj has shelfwear present to the dj sunning present to the spine, front panel hinge repaired with tape to the reverse. At swim two birds is a 1939 novel by irish author brian o nolan, writing under the pseudonym flann o brien. Soon longmans was more positive about publishing the novel than was the author. The title is a punning allusion to flann obrien s at swimtwobirds. A fine copy of the book, gilt lettering sharp and fresh, text block including all edges bright and clean.
At swim two birds ebook epub electronic book at swim two birds by flann obrien for iphone, ipad txt format version, file with page numbers at swim two birds by flann obrien kindle edition with audio multimedia cd video hardcover new or used, cheap audiobook pric theres also other. His masterpiece, at swimtwobirds 1939, went almost unrecognized in its time. Many writers claimed that they liked the book and vivian mercier regarded it as the most fantastic irish novel ever written. A good book may have three openings entirely dissimilar and interrelated only in the prescience of the author, or for that matter one hundred times as many endings. In my copy, the binding is flimsy, and a few pages are on the verge of falling out even though the book has not yet been read. I reflected on the subject of my sparetime literary activities. Goodreads members who liked at swimtwobirds also liked.
His novel, for all its peculiarity, is hardpressed to match the strangeness of its own history. The book in question was at swimtwobirds and if we take queer to mean diabolically eccentric, then truer words were never spoken. Find books like at swimtwobirds from the worlds largest community of readers. Sep 01, 2005 at swimtwobirds has remained in my mind ever since it first appeared as one of the best books of our century. Regarded as one of the best examples of metafiction, this book is thought to be the writers masterpiece. It was published under the pseudonym of flann obrien, a name onolan had already used to write hoax letters to the irish times. At swimtwobirds has remained in my mind ever since it first appeared as one of the best books of our century. The book is written in a streamofconsciousness style, which has led to favourable comparisons to james joyce. The student believes that one beginning and one ending for a book was a thing i did not agree with, and he accordingly sets three apparently quite separate stories in motion. When not in bed where he seems to spend most of his time or reading, he is composing a mischieffilled novel about dermot trellis, a secondrate author whose characters ultimately rebel against him. Free download or read online at swim two birds pdf epub book.
This is a book so unusual that it will not fit into any category. A fictional comic, fantasy by one of irelands finest 20th century authors. Operating on many levels it incorporates plots within plots, giving full rein to obriens dancing intellect and celtic wit. Jul 22, 2019 flann obriens first novel is a brilliant impressionistic jumble of ideas, mythology and nonsense. This novel, which plays havoc with the conventional novel form, is about a man writing a book about characters in. A wildly comic sendup of irish literature and culture, at swimtwobirds is the. When not in bed where he seems to spend most of his time or reading he is composing a mischieffilled novel about dermot trellis, a secondrate author whose characters ultimately rebel against him. At swim two birds is a book by flann obrien on 20191112. At swim two birds is a marvel of imagination, language, and humor. This study guide consists of approximately 37 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of at swimtwobirds.
Observations on flann obriens at swimtwobirds in translation. It is widely considered to be obriens masterpiece, and one of the most sophisticated examples of metafiction. At swim two birds is a 1939 novel by irish writer brian onolan, writing under the pseudonym flann obrien. It was published under the house of longman green and co. Flann obriens novel at swimtwobirds is a postmodernist. Irish writer brian nolan better known by his pen name flann obrien submitted his novel at swimtwobirds to the longman publishers in the 1930s, where it was suggested for publication by the english novelist graham greene, working as a reader at the time. Graham greene if i were a cultural dictator in england i would make at swimtwobirds compulsory reading in all universities. I first read at swim two birds at secondary school in the 1980s. After the war, in america, at swim two birds was republished by pantheon books in 1950, but sales remained low. Flann obriens first novel is a brilliant impressionistic jumble of ideas, mythology and nonsense.