The Poor Mouth

Flann O'Brien's gloriously wicked satire of the traditional Irish peasant novel, 'The Poor Mouth' tells the shamelessly ironic story of Bonaparte O'Coonassa, born in the west of Ireland 'on a terrible winter's night'. A hymn to the world of potatoes, rain and 'excellent poverty', this cruelly funny assault on the fashionable Gaelic Revival of the day brought the wrath of the custodians of national sentiment upon O'Brien's head for many years thereafter. 'A wonderful romp amongst the unspeakable stereotypes of Irishry. ' THE TIMES. 'A Gaelic novel, all footnotes and authenticity, 'The Poor Mouth' is O'Brien's practical joke. Hugely and unfairly funny. ' OBSERVER. 'Anyone who has read the Blasket writers, cooked a pained ear to Peig Sayers or waded through the novels of Màire, will delight in the cruel accuracy of 'The Poor Mouth. '' LITERARY REVIEW. 'O'Brien's sense of comedy is an unfailing delight. ' SUNDAY TIMES. 'Along with Joyce and Beckett, Flann O'Brien constitutes our trinity of great Irish writers. ' EDNA O'BRIEN.