The Third Policeman
Flann O'Brien's surrealist masterpiece is this month's unforgettable selection
“Strange enlightenments are vouchsafed to those who seek the higher places.”
The Third Policeman is one of the greatest works of Irish fiction, blending elements of ghost story, surrealism, farce and fantasy, encapsulated in a timeless bind of charm and wit.
Flann O’Brien and Myles na gCopaleen, were pen names for Brian O'Nolan (1911-1966), whose work graced both stage and page throughout his lifetime and beyond. The Third Policeman was first published in 1967, the year after his death, and has since become a beloved staple of literary connoisseurs the world over. Resting somewhere between Samuel Beckett, Lewis Carroll and James Joyce, this is a rarity; a fiercely colloquial novel with universal appeal.
“What you think is the point is not the point at all but only the beginning of the sharpness.”
Ostensibly, it’s a tale of crime and punishment, but it’s so much more than that. It’s an examination of obsession, obscurity and communication; a reflection on existence, place and purpose. It’s also got quite a lot to say on the subject of bicycles.
Our narrator is a somewhat lost and pitiful creature, who is not without pathos. In the first page it is revealed that he has murdered a local elderly man with the help of a shadowy figure named John Divney, who seems intent on usurping the narrator’s home, pub and farm.
The brutal act is carried out without hindrance, and the narrator is sent back to the old man’s house to look for a black box containing his savings. That’s where things take a really strange turn.
There’s a local police station in which the residing officers are more concerned with the activities and wellbeing of bicycles than they are of people. Justice takes on bizarre and incomprehensible forms. Our narrator is condemned in the most offhand manner imaginable, and everything seems to lose sense of meaning, especially the fabric of reality itself.
Oh, and the old man seems to have returned from the grave.
“Hell goes round and round. In shape it is circular, and by nature it is interminable, repetitive, and nearly unbearable.”
This is an absurdist novel with a surprisingly accessible form. Whilst it may contain themes of great depth and relevance, it can also be read at surface level as a jovial ‘shaggy dog story’, and both approaches are valid ways to consume it. It’s an economical book, using clipped language and a swift delivery to keep things moving at a downhill pace throughout. Most importantly, it’s incredibly funny.
The Third Policeman is an anomaly, and one which I feel will resonate greatly with the diverse tastes of The Gothic Book Club members.
As always, you can participate via the Fable app, on IG, TikTok and, of course, in the comment section here on Substack. I’m very excited to explore this book with you and look forward to hearing your thoughts on it.