Myles Away From Dublin - Softcover

O'Brien, Flann

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1843512653 ISBN 13: 9781843512653

Publisher: The Lilliput Press Ltd, 2012

Synopsis

Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan, aka Myles na Gopaleen) adopted not only a new name (George Knowall) for these rarely seen pieces, but also a new persona. Writing his column "Bones of Contention" for the "Nationalist and Leinster Times", he took on the character of the quizzical and enquiring humorist who might be found in a respectable public house in Carlow: erudite, urbane and informative, he is the country cousin of the Myles of Dublin, yet still a facet of the complex character who wrote "The Third Policeman" and "At Swim-Two-Birds". His delight in words, his uncanny ability to see through humbug, are unparalleled. Writers as disparate as James Joyce, Dylan Thomas, Graham Greene and Anthony Burgess have marvelled at his talent. New readers will discover that he is one of the funniest writers in any language, at any time. Brian O'Nolan, who also wrote under the pen names of Flann O'Brien and Myles na Gopaleen, was born in 1911 in Co Tyrone. A resident of Dublin, he graduated from University College after a brilliant career as a student, where he briefly edited - and largely wrote - a comic magazine called "Blather", and joined the Civil Service, in which he eventually attained a senior position. He died in Dublin on 1 April 1966. His novels include: "A S-2-B", "The Dalkey Archive", "The Third Policeman", "The Hard Life and The Poor Mouth" (originally published in Irish as "An Beal Bocht").

About this title

From the Back Cover:

From 1940 to 1966, Flann O’Brien, under the pseudonym Myles na Gopaleen, wrote a justly famous satirical column for the 'Irish Times'. Unbeknownst to many, he also wrote for the provincial 'National and Leinster Times', adopting the persona of George Knowall, the quizzical and endlessly enquiring country cousin of the metropolitan Myles: it is these pieces that are collected in this volume. Contemplating a variety of topics from the difficulties of obtaining fresh fish ‘at a reasonable cost’ to the glorious technological wonders of the lawnmower, Knowall is one of O’Brien’s finest comic achievements.

“Genius. We won’t see his like again”
IRISH TIMES

“'Myles Away From Dublin' contains numerous monologues on such vital topics as the diameter of golf holes, the regrettable consequences of the Irish Air Corps’ lack of a helicopter and a hilariously detailed proposal for the manufacture of whiskey cubes in order to save on glass. Shameless Mickey-taking.”
OBSERVER

“'Myles Away From Dublin' is a delightful collection of wry sketches, full of quiet wisdom and curious lore, finding fun in the everyday comedies and dramas of life. Flann O’Brien has the keenest ear for language and the sharpest pen to prod a cliché until it bursts.”
TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT

About this edition

• Publisher: The Lilliput Press Ltd
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1843512653
• ISBN 13: 9781843512653
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 272