At Swim-Two-Birds

Written by Flann O'Brien

Narrated by Aidan Kelly

More preoccupied with drinking, sleeping, and writing, an unnamed student neglects his studies and invents three separate openings for a novel. The first introduces the Pooka MacPhellimey, "a member of the devil class", the second involves Mr. John Furriskey, a character belonging to another of the student's creations (writer Dermot Trellis), while the final opening features legendary Irish heroes Finn Mac Cool and Mad King Sweeny. Soon, Trellis's creations rebel against him, doing as they like while he sleeps, and the characters from each story begin wandering in and out of each other's tales.

Published in 1939, At Swim-Two-Birds is a madcap exploration of Irish literature and mythology, and the unending possibilities of fiction. Text © 1939 Flann O'Brien. 2019 Naxos AudioBooks UK Ltd. Artwork © 2019 Naxos AudioBooks UK Ltd.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Naxos Audiobooks
• Release date: Nov 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9781781983362

Flann O'Brien

Flann O’Brien (Brian O’Nolan, Strabane, Tyrone, 1911 – Dublín 1966). Escritor irlandés. Trabajó para la Administración Pública desde 1935 hasta 1953. También colaboró durante 26 años en el Irish Times con el seudónimo de Myles na gCopaleen, ya que al ser funcionario no podía escribir con su nombre. En sus artículos retrataba con un estilo mordaz la política de su tiempo. Su estilo y el argumento de sus libros son muy originales y fueron alabados por Samuel Beckett y James Joyce, quien, ya prácticamente ciego, leía sus novelas con la ayuda de una lupa. Joyce dijo de O’Brien y de este libro: «Un escritor auténtico, con el verdadero espíritu cómico. Un libro realmente divertido». En Nórdica Libros estamos entusiasmados con la obra de este genial irlandés y con En Nadar-dos-pájaros hemos cumplido el sueño de publicar todas sus novelas: El Tercer Policía, Crónica de Dalkey, La boca pobre y La vida dura. En el libro El canon occidental, del famoso crítico literario Harold Bloom, aparecen El Tercer Policía y Crónica de Dalkey como dos de las obras más importantes de la literatura en lengua inglesa.

Reviews for At Swim-Two-Birds

[Louie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The world of Flann O’Brien is like Australia must have seemed to the first sensitive white visitors. It is full of beauty and absurdity, charm and Irish weirdness. It has fantastic characters and events yet they feel real and actual, and the most engaging dialogue ever, performed brilliantly. The Dublin accent is a thing of beauty and a joy forever. This book reading will bewitch you and make you forget your troubles and laugh out loud. It has a very dark undertone and yet nonetheless it is a tonic for the depressed mind in today’s wasteland.

[Bob Orange · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent writing and the reading by Aidan Kelly is one of my top 5 of any audiobook I've ever listened to.