At Swim-Two-Birds

Author(s): Flann O'Brien

General Fiction

"This is just the book to give your sister - if she's a loud, dirty, boozy girl." - Dylan Thomas.


Flann O'Brien's first novel tells the story of a young, indolent undergraduate, who lives with his curmudgeonly uncle in Dublin and spends far too much time drinking with his friends. When not drunk or in bed he likes to invent wild stories peoples with hilarious and unlikely characters - but somehow his creations won't do what he wants them to.


A dazzling work of farce, satire, folklore and absurdity that gives full rein to its author's dancing intellect and Celtic wit, At Swim-Two-Birds is both a brilliant comic send-up of Irish literature and culture, and a portrayal of Dublin to compare with Joyce's Ulysses.    


Product Information

At Swim-Two-Birds is both a comedy and a fantasy of such staggering originality that it baffles description and very nearly beggars our sense of delight.

Flann O'Brien was born on October 5, 1911, in Strabane, Ireland. He was a novelist and dramatist. He wrote a column for The Irish Times for 26 years under the name Myles na gCopaleen. His first novel, At Swim-Two-Birds, was written in 1939. It combines folklore, poetry and humor. He died in Dublin on April 1, 1966. His novel The Third Policeman was published posthumously.

General Fields

  • : 9780141182681
  • : Penguin UK
  • : Penguin
  • : 0.17
  • : May 2000
  • : 198mm X 129mm X 14mm
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Flann O'Brien
  • : Paperback
  • : English
  • : 823.912