Review by Hugh McFadden
Insight into a mixed-up, ultimately ruined genius
The Collected Letters of Flann O’Brien. Maebh Long (ed.). Dalkey Archive Press; 603pp; €20; 23 cm; 978-1- 6289-7183-5.
EXTRACT:
In his relatively short life and misfortunate writing career the novelist Brian O’Nolan, a.k.a. Flann O’Brien and Myles na gCopaleen, seems to have been a patient in almost every hospital in Dublin, apart from the maternity hospitals. For years before he died of cardiac arrest at the age of 54, he suffered from a succession of serious illnesses, including respiratory problems (he was a heavy smoker), stomach illnesses including gastroenteritis (he was a heavy drinker), liver disease (alcohol again), and for some time before a heart attack killed him he was being treated for throat and neck cancer. The death certificate may have specified cardiac arrest as the cause of death, but the real underlying cause was addiction to alcohol and nicotine, the dreadful ‘lifestyle’, as the Irish euphemism has it. And the extraordinary thing is, that right up to his death, O’Nolan in his correspondence professed himself mystified as to why he was repeatedly ill: an example of the ability of the alcoholic to blind himself to the reality of alcoholism. […]
Content is restricted to subscribers – to continue reading please log-in via Exact Editions or contact us about a print or digital subscription.
September/October 2018(issue no.381)
Books Ireland is gratefully supported by the following organisations:




February Book Competition
Charlie Savage
by Roddy Doyle
A whole year's worth of Roddy Doyle's hilarious, much-loved series for the Irish Independent.

ENTER YOUR EMAIL
for a chance to win:
Charlie Savage
by Roddy Doyle
ISBN: 978-1-787331181
Publisher: Jonathan Cape
SUBMISSION
Books Ireland is looking for new writers. Read our full Submission Guidelines
ADVERTISING
Do you want to Advertise with us? To know more about us and to download our rate card click here