The Poor Mouth: A Bad Story about the Hard Life: Amazon.ca: Flann O'Brien, Ralph Steadman, Patrick C. Power: Books

Product Description

From Library Journal

O'Brien's wicked satire on the life of Irish peasant Bonaparte O'Coonassa was published in Gaelic in 1941 and translated into English in 1964. This edition contains illustrations by Ralph Steadman. A good companion to the MacNamara novel reviewed above.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Boston Globe

"O'Brien was one of the comic geniuses of the 20th century. . . . The Poor Mouth is wildly funny and Steadman's drawings catch the spirit."

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Customer Reviews

10 Reviews

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4 star:		(3)
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Average Customer Review

4.7 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars side-splitting, Nov 5 2003

By	A. Dutkiewicz "jan-luke_adam" (Norwood, South Australia Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Have you ever had a laughing fit while reading on a bus? It was almost enough to have me committed.Although not personally aware of any Irish in my blood, the way this erupted in me makes it a strong chance.

It has never been better explained why so many Irish ended up in America and elsewhere abroad. A true story!

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5.0 out of 5 stars Not for Nationalists, Jul 7 2003

By	Charles J. Marr (Cambridge Springs, Pa USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is an inside joke, and a classic at that. It is a grand send up of professional Irish (both at home and abroad). As example, consider a book written in Gaelic making sport of the Gaelic movement by means of a Gaelic festival. ( In ourland of the professional ethnic festival, this might serve as an effective antidote to "Irish" nights and "Scots weekends.") If you are inclined to romanticize villages of the old sod dominated by pigs, mud, rain and potatos, avoid this work. If you want a great classic of the jaundiced eye school of literature, read this book. By the way, some of the fun lies in the many parodies of Irish literary works in the assorted chapters; knowledge of the genre helps.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Amusing Story, Dec 27 2002

By A Customer

It helps to have read other Irish literature first to appreciate this book.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the funniest book I have ever read.
I hurt myself laughing about Ambrose the foul smelling pig. An earlier reviewer noted that knowledge of gaelic liturature and Irish folklore is important in understanding the... Read more

Published on Jan 8 2002 by Richard T. Rossiter

4.0 out of 5 stars The Dampest Story I Ever Read
This story was written in Gaelic and published in 1941. Patrick Power brought it into English in 1973. Read more

Published on Jul 26 2001 by James R. Mccall