Hard Life: With an Introduction by Jamie O'Neill - Softcover

O'Brien, Flann

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9781903650592: Hard Life: With an Introduction by Jamie O'Neill

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1903650593 ISBN 13: 9781903650592

Publisher: Pocket Books/TownHouse, 2003

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Two orphaned boys, Manus and Finbarr, descend into the house of the disputatious Mr. Collopy. This is a tale of growing up in the midst of eccentricity: of Mr. Collopy's mysterious humanitarian work on behalf of women; of his progressive-sounding (and often blasphemous) arguments with his priest, Father Fahrt. Manus quickly proves himself a master of business, teaching people by post to walk the tightrope in Edwardian Dublin. He soon dispatches Collopy on a trip to Rome, seeking relief from the unexpected effects of his eldest charge's attempts at pharmaceuticals. Finbarr, meanwhile, watches and waits, a young boy with only the foggiest notion of the world he is describing...

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From the Back Cover:

When two young boys, Finbarr and Manus, are tragically orphaned, the strange and eccentric Mr Collopy takes them under his wing and into his household. While Collopy is engaged in mysterious humanitarian work on behalf of local women, the boys grow up – in the odour of good whiskey and bad cooking.

Surprisingly, Manus proves to be a master of business. From teaching people to walk the tightrope by correspondence course and running the very successful Excelsior Turf Bureau and Zenith school of Journalism, Manus graduates to enlightening the world in more ambitious ways at his ‘London University Academy’. Finbarr, the youngest, watches and waits ...

“Mr Collopy presides over his house in Dublin, drinking whiskey and discussing the state of the world. Revelling in circular argument, in extravagant statement, his whole life is a celebration of the glory of talk. 'The Hard Life' is like a party, a boisterous one at which Irishmen meet fortuitously and rejoice in their wit.”
THE TIMES

“O’Brien’s gifts are startling. He has the outstanding Irish genius for describing the human animal and an extraordinary freedom of the English language. A tale of inspired eccentricity.”
OBSERVER

Also available in Flamingo: 'The Third Policeman, The Poor Mouth, The Dalkey Archive, The Best of Myles' and 'Myles Away from Dublin'.

About the Author:

Flann O'Brien is the pseudonym of Brian O'Nolan who was born in Co. Tyrone in 1911. He lived in Dublin with his wife until his death in 1966. A graduate of University College, his career as a writer extended from his student days, through his years in the Civil Service and the years following his resignation. His novels include AT SWIM-TWO-BIRDS, THE DALKEY ARCHIVE, THE HARD LIFE, THE THIRD POLICEMAN and THE POOR MOUTH.

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