Flann O'Brien

Flann O'Brien was the best known pseudonym of Brian O'Nolan (1911-1966), who also published under the name Myles na Gopaleen. He was a twentieth century Irish humorous writer.

Under the name Flann O'Brien, he published a series of novels that have attracted a wide following for their bizarre humour. At Swim-Two-Birds works entirely with recycled characters from other fiction (and legend), on the grounds that there are already far too many fictional characters in circulation, while The Third Policeman has as superficial plot an Irish country youth's vision of hell, as byplay against that a satire of academic debate on an eccentric philosopher, and finds time to introduce the atomic theory of the bicycle. Other books by Flann O'Brien include The Hard Life, The Dalkey Archive and The Poor Mouth (originally written in Irish as An Béal Bocht)

As Myles na Gopaleen, O'Nolan published a regular column in the Irish Times, alternately in English and Irish. These pieces have been collected into a number of books with titles such as The Best of Myles and Cuttings from the Cruiskeen Lawn (an example of bilingual humour, which O'Nolan often used).

Flann O'Brien's writing is sufficiently creative that he counts as a major figure in twentieth century Irish literature.