The Best of Myles [Mass Market Paperback]

Flann O'Brien (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1995

Flann O'Brien (1911-1966) est considéré, avec Joyce et Beckett, comme l'un des grands Irlandais de la littérature mondiale. Ses romans, du Troisième policier à L'Archiviste de Dublin, en passant par At-Swim-To-Birds, lui valent l'admiration de Dylan Thomas, John Updike, ou encore Nicholson Baker et Edna O'Brien, parmi d'autres. Mais ce sont ses chroniques, publiées de 1940 à sa mort dans l'Irish Times sous le pseudonyme de Myles na gCopaleen, qui lui valurent celle de ses contemporains. Au fil de ces trente années de chroniques, Flann O'Brien s'est penché sur toutes les grandes questions qui agitent l'humanité: l'art, la littérature, la mort, mais aussi les usages possibles du ventriloquisme, les raseurs, l'art de passer pour intelligent ou de détamiser la farine. Bourru, bougon, atrabilaire et surtout malpensant, Flann O'Brien dénonce avec jubilation les ridicules tant de la bonne société que du "bon peuple d'Irlande". À la fois drôle et cruel, O'Brien versus Myles affiche le rejet des conventions de son siècle et révèle tout l'art quotidien d'un satiriste hors pair, d'un illusionniste délirant à l'humour aiguisé, autrement dit "the best of Myles".

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Though best known for his fine novels, Irish writer O'Brien also wrote under the name Myles na Gopaleen a newspaper column in the Irish Times called "Cruiskeen Lawn" for more than 30 years. This 1968 volume collects the best of those pieces. O'Brien leans on many Irish clich?s (poverty, boozing, etc.) but uses them often with great humor.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

Brilliant, morosely inventive comic turns devoted to O'Brien's favourite topics: the literary life, the Gaelic Revival, civil service bureaucracy, booze and its discontents. (The Observer )

This volume collects the best of [his newspaper] pieces. O'Brien leans on many Irish clichçs (poverty, boozing, etc.) but uses them often with great humor. (Library Journal )

Not to be missed. (Washington Post ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (October 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140063668
• ISBN-13: 978-0140063660
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,067,825 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars YES! I Can Finally Own My Own Copy!, October 30, 1999

By 

Sharon Lee "Sharon" (Unity, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Best of Myles (Irish Literature Series) (Paperback)

A friend lent me his copy (an Irish edition) of this book five or more years ago, and I've been searching for my own copy ever since. I'm delighted to find it's been reprinted and I just placed my order.

I envy anyone who has not yet read this book of collected columns and essays -- the outrageous details of the Ventriloquists' War, the intricacies of the Catechism of Cliche, and the wisdom of the Brother all await your delighted discovery.

Have a blast.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the funniest books I've ever read, June 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Best of Myles (Irish Literature Series) (Paperback)

Absolutely hilarious collection of newspaper columns from the Irish Times. The sequence on how the uncultured rich may hire book handlers to maul their books (including forged inscriptions such as "From your devoted friend and admirer, K. Marx") is worth the price by itself. And when you realize that several dialogues seemingly in Irish are actually in English, using Irish spelling....

I laughed till I cried. If you like Ireland, humor, or simply good writing, you'll love it!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the good stuff, October 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Best of Myles (Irish Literature Series) (Paperback)

Just an another serio-comic genius writing an everyday newspaper column. Apart from being hilarious, some of these columns can also be read as dramatic monologues - as smart and unwittingly revealing of character as any Browning did.

This is just as good as it gets.