Flann O’Brien

By clicking here, you have begun to learn about the source inspiring both DeSelby and Omnium, the genesis of our corporate mythology; the books of this fine Irish author, whose real name was Brian O'Nolan (born 1911, died 1966).

In Flann's writings, you may learn about making the finest whiskey in a week, finding Omnium in shoeboxes, the philosopher DeSelby (most often cited in footnotes), molecule theories, postmen, life, death, bicycles, and much more. A rewarding way to spend your time, in our opinion.

His works include:

• The Dalkey Archive
• The Hard Life: An Exegesis of Squalor
• The Third Policeman
• At Swim-Two-Birds
• An Béal Bocht (The Poor Mouth)

"Sitting at home with my box of omnium I could do anything, see anything, and know everything with no limit to my powers save that of my own imagination. Perhaps I could use it to extend my imagination. I could destroy, alter and improve the universe at will."

Links

Check out Colm Buckley's Flann O'Brien page for more quotes and information.
There's another Flannpage as part of a sprawling Irish culture site.
And yet another site for Flann information has now come to light.
Finally deselby.com (no relation to us) is suitably inscrutable.

The best US-based source for his books we've found is Dalkey Archive Press. There are eight books of his in print from them: At Swim-Two-Birds, At War, The Best of Myles, The Dalkey Archive, Further Cuttings from Cruiskeen Lawn, The Hard Life, The Poor Mouth: A Bad Story About the Hard Life, and The Third Policeman.

Updated February 26, 2008