the latest on the master of surreal humour Flann O'Brien

What is it about?

A review of the latest collection discussing the work of Flann O'Brien from a wide range of perspectives: from cognitive humanities, to modernist studies, satire, quantum physics, political censorship, nature studies, or Irish studies.

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Why is it important?

Flann O'Brien had serious problems with authority... so how come he is next in line for literary canonisation? The interesting collection of critical essays reviewed here engages with the surrealist humour of his novels, journalism, and scripts. Flann O'Brien, aka Brian O'Nolan, is presented in the collection as a worthy exemplar of... um, what? We are told that he was ‘modernist’, ‘late-modernist’, ‘postmodern’, ‘(post-)modernist’, ‘modernist and postmodernist’, late modernist revivalist, or a case of ‘anti-modernist modernism’ (all gleaned from the volume). What is going on? Is there any hope for Flann O'Brien Studies, when his legacy of contrariness and mischief makes academics sound like a 'Hot Air Brigade'?