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Reviews
The Poor Mouth: A Bad Story about the Hard Life by Ralph Steadman, Patrick C. Power, Flann O'Brien
vonnegutian's review against another edition
4.0
‘The Poor Mouth’ is a scathing yet amusing satire squarely aimed at the narratives and custodians of Gaelic Ireland, complete with endless rain, countless meals of potatoes and house shares with sheep and pigs. The protagonist, Bonaparte O’Coonassa, lives in the fictitious village of Corkadoragha where he ambles through a poverty stricken yet mildly philosophical and content life. This is a short, enjoyable read that immerses you in a beautiful, simple yet ridiculous tale which pulsates with Irishness. Without having read O’Brien’s other works yet, I’ve gleaned that this is only moderately surreal in comparison but it was still evidence of skilful writing and a risk-taking, experimental style that made for an engaging read. I’ll definitely be reading his others!
craigwallwork's review
5.0
I cannot let the opportunity pass without doffing my hat to the literary genius that is Brian O’Nolan. Know best under the nom de plume, Flann O’Brien, his novels An Beal Bocht (The Poor Mouth), At Swim-Two-Birds and The Third Policeman, continue to influence writers, myself included, all around the world.
For me, The Poor Mouth, sits high above any other collection of short stories written, and became the inspiration behind my new novel, Dog Mile (working title). It tells the story of Bonaparte O'Coonassa, a local in afictional village in the Gaeltacht known as Corkadoragha, whose hilariously pitiful, and depressing, upbringing is a marvel to read. Highly recommended.
For me, The Poor Mouth, sits high above any other collection of short stories written, and became the inspiration behind my new novel, Dog Mile (working title). It tells the story of Bonaparte O'Coonassa, a local in afictional village in the Gaeltacht known as Corkadoragha, whose hilariously pitiful, and depressing, upbringing is a marvel to read. Highly recommended.
caterinaanna's review
3.0
had I not read the introduction to this I would not have got it at all at all. Eeven having done so, I still feel I missed out on some of the joke. This repetitive tale of constant rain and rural poverty is full of exaggerated incident: misery memoir meets slapstick film in the Gaeltacht. Apparently O'Brien/O'Nolan/na gCopaleen's aim was to send up the nationalists' "woe is me" sentimentality and some of the stylistic conventions of the nascent gaelic writing fraternity. If he has done a good job I confess I am left with no desire to read it and wondering how a country with such a rich oral and musical tradition, as well as producing such writers as 'Oscar Wilde and Brendan Behan, Sean O'Casey, George Bernard Shaw' (name that tune), could lose its way so badly when at last given the opportunity to produce a written literature of its own.
cathygeagan's review
4.0
This is short and absofrickinglutely hilarious (albeit with uniquely Irish dark humour!). A justified classic
mattleesharp's review
1.0
Very rarely as witty or sharp as I was told it would be. It's good as a portrait of a particular situation in a particular world, but any stand-in for the church felt like a serious strawman even for the time the book was written in. I honestly just didn't enjoy or have the stamina to finish this (not even that long) book. Disappointing introduction to O'Brien.
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