Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
London: Pan Books, 1977
Description
Under the pseudonym Myles na Gopaleen, Flann O' Brien wrote a daily column in the 'Irish Times' called 'Cruiskeen Lawn' for over twenty years which hilariously satirised the absurdities and solemnities of Dublin life. With shameless irony and relentless high spirits Myles' 'Cruiskeen Lawn' became the most feared, respected and uproarious newspaper column in the whole of Ireland from its first appearance in 1940 until his death in 1966. This wonderful selection from the 'Cruiskeen Lawn' columns is a modern classic that will appeal to lovers of absurdity and sharp comic observation everywhere.
User reviews
LibraryThing member chilirlw
I'm giving this book 5 stars even though much of it is confusing and/or just not that funny to me. The five stars, however, are richly deserved for the hilarious segments on "Buchhandlung": a proposed business venture in which books bought by the unlettered rich can be made to look well-used, with
"Popular Handling--Each volume to be well and truly handled, four leaves in each to be dog-eared, and a tram ticket, cloakroom docket, or other comparable article inserted in each as a forgotten book-mark"
all the way up to "Le Traitement Superbe" encompassing, among other things,
"Not less than six volumes to be inscribed with forged messages of affection and gratitude from the author of each work, e.g.,...'From your devoted friend and follower, K. Marx.' 'Dear A. B.,--Your invaluable suggestions and assistance, not to mention your kindness, in entirely re-writing chapter 3, entitles you, surely, to this first copy of "Tess". From your old friend T. Hardy'"
I carried this bit of humor around on xerox for years, foisting it on anyone who would read it. It's well worth the price of the volume.
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price points ranging from:"Popular Handling--Each volume to be well and truly handled, four leaves in each to be dog-eared, and a tram ticket, cloakroom docket, or other comparable article inserted in each as a forgotten book-mark"
all the way up to "Le Traitement Superbe" encompassing, among other things,
"Not less than six volumes to be inscribed with forged messages of affection and gratitude from the author of each work, e.g.,...'From your devoted friend and follower, K. Marx.' 'Dear A. B.,--Your invaluable suggestions and assistance, not to mention your kindness, in entirely re-writing chapter 3, entitles you, surely, to this first copy of "Tess". From your old friend T. Hardy'"
I carried this bit of humor around on xerox for years, foisting it on anyone who would read it. It's well worth the price of the volume.
Show Less
LibraryThing member DinadansFriend
Mr. O'brien made money off this collection of occasionally risque stories, but I found here no descendant of Shaw or Oliver Saint John Gogarty, or even Spike Milligan. Just not very funny. Perhaps the modern Irish aren't.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1968
Physical description
400 p.; 21 cm
ISBN
0330248553 / 9780330248556