The Third Policeman [Flann O'Brien]

[Best Book] [Superb] [Irish]

The Third Policeman

Flann O'Brien

Signet, NY. 1976. First Plume printing. Lovely copy; some rubbing and minor wear to cover and rear, but quite fine otherwise. Excellent.

From the publisher:

"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, The Best of Myles, and The Dalkey Archive) to ensure his place, along with James Joyce and Samuel Beckett, as one of Ireland's great comic geniuses."

Astonishingly good tragicomic exploration of the big questions in life by Ireland's third literary pillar, Flann O'Brien. Highest recommendation. Just go for it, this is a handsome edition. (no hate on Dalkey's covers)