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The Third Policeman

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( 22,437 ratings, 2,688 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien is a surreal and darkly comic novel that follows an unnamed narrator as he becomes entwined in a bizarre rural world after a botched crime. This dreamlike narrative explores philosophical themes of existence and identity, intertwining absurdity with fantastical elements. The story unfolds within a landscape filled with peculiar policemen and a reality where the metaphysical and mundane blur intriguingly.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy surreal and darkly humorous tales that explore themes of identity and existence. Set in a strange, topsy-turvy world filled with eccentric characters, it offers a unique blend of absurdity and philosophical insight, perfect for readers who appreciate a mind-bending narrative style.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A masterpiece of black humour from the renown comic and acclaimed author of ‘At Swim-Two-Birds’ – Flann O’Brien.

A hilarious surrealistic fantasy debut novel

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A masterpiece of black humour from the renowned comic and acclaimed author of At Swim-Two-Birds – Flann O’Brien.

A thriller, a hilarious comic satire about an archetypal village police force, a surrealistic vision of eternity, the story of a tender, brief, unrequited love affair between a man and his bicycle, and a chilling fable of unending guilt, The Third Policeman is comparable only to Alice in Wonderland as an allegory of the absurd.

Distinguished by endless comic invention and its delicate balancing of logic and fantasy, The Third Policeman is unique in the English language.

Series: Harper Perennial Modern Classics

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  • The Third Policeman
    A masterpiece of black humour from the renowned comic and acclaimed author of At Swim-Two-Birds – Flann O’Brien. A thriller, a hilarious comic satire about an archetypal village police force, a surrealistic vision of eternity, the story of a tender, brief, unrequited love affair between a man and his bicycle, and a chilling fable of unending guilt, The Third Policeman...
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien is celebrated for its inventive storytelling, blending lyrical language with elements of foolery, indignation, and comedy. Critics appreciate O'Brien’s ability to make the eccentric seem natural and infuse ordinary situations with hilarity. Many acknowledge him as a major influence on subsequent Irish writers, with some suggesting that even James Joyce might have envied O'Brien's mastery of black humour.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780007247172

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 16 April 2007

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: HarperPerennial

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 14.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 170g

Pages: 240

About the Author

Flann O'Brien was one of the many pseudonyms of Brian O'Nolan, author of the classic novel 'At Swim- Two-Birds' and, under the name Myles na Gopaleen, writer of a celebrated satirical column in the Irish Times which appeared daily for almost thirty years. Highly praised by Samuel Beckett and James Joyce, amongst others, O'Brien is regarded as one of the great comic writers of the twentieth century. He died in 1966.

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