At Swim-two-birds

Nov 24, 2025 10:38 AM

Author:Flann O'Brien

At Swim-two-birds

Flann O'Brien's first novel is a brilliant impressionistic jumble of ideas, mythology and nonsense. Operating on many levels it incorporates plots within plots, giving full rein to O'Brien's dancing intellect and Celtic wit. The undergraduate narrator lives with his uncle in Dublin, drinks too much with his friends and invents stories peopled with hilarious and unlikely characters, one of whom, in a typical O'Brien conundrum, creates a means by which women can give birth to full-grown people. Flann O'Brien's blend of farce, satire and fantasy result in a remarkable, astonishingly innovative book.

Reviews

A funny, romantic and gloriously escapist read

—— Marian Keyes

A very funny book about a sensitive subject...Ben Elton the writer might be even funnier than Ben Elton the comic

—— Daily Mail

A tender, beautifully balanced romantic comedy

—— Spectator

Extremely funny, clever, well-written, sharp and unexpectedly moving...This brilliant, chaotic satire merits rereading several times

—— Nicholas Coleridge , Mail on Sunday

This is Elton at his best - mature, humane, and still a laugh a minute. At least

—— Daily Telegraph

Only Ben Elton could combine uncomfortable questions about gender politics with a gripping, page-turning narrative and jokes that make you laugh out loud

—— Tony Parsons

A very funny book about a sensitive subject ... Ben Elton the writer might even be funniter than Ben Elton the comic

—— Daily Mail

The selections from the greats are generous and well chosen

—— Guardian

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