Cover of the first edition of At Swim-Two-Birds. Published by Longman's Green & Co., (1939)
On March 13th, 1939, just six months before the of World War II, Longman's Green published "At Swim Two Birds". The book had been recommended to the British publisher by Graham Greene, one of the preeminent novelists of the 20th century. During the forthcoming dark years of the war, the text would amuse some and frustrate others.
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The author of this mad or maddening work, depending on your perspective, was Flann O’Brien and the contents of the novel had more intertwined plot lines than the writer had pen names. Flann O’Brien, born as Brian O’Nolan in Tyrone, was known as Myles na Gopaleen when writing his "An Béal Bocht" (The Poor Mouth) column in the Irish Times. During his student days he had published under the Brother Barnabas moniker and had also employed the George Knowall sobriquet when writing for The Nationalist and the Leinster Times.
It’s hardly surprising that "At Swim Two Birds" is as easy to pin down as its author’s multiple identities. O’Brien refused to be constrained by conventional literary forms and the novel is often referred to as an example of metafiction where authors are frequently unambiguous in reminding readers that they’re reading a work of fiction
Regardless of the form, what is unquestioned is the comedic talent and erudition on display in the book. Welsh poet Dylan Thomas on reading the book commented, “This is just the book to give your sister – if she's a loud, dirty, boozy girl". James Joyce remarked that the book was the work of a "real writer" who had "the true comic spirit"
So the next time you wish to challenge yourself and venture beyond humdrum fiction offerings, consider "At Swim Two Birds". You’ll be keeping good literary company and if you surrender to the form, you’re likely to laugh more than a few times.
