Description

Brendan Behan s genius was to strike a chord between critic and common man. When he died, at the age of 41, he was arguably the most celebrated Irish writer of the twentieth century. After the Wake is a collection of seven prose works and a series of articles.

It includes all that exists of an unfinished novel, The Catacombs , and pieces together items whose comic and fanciful accounts evoke Flann O Brien. Also featured are works of acknowledged excellence, The Confirmation Suit and A Woman of No Standing . This writing bears all the hallmarks of the author s talent – an ability to bring characters to life quickly and unforgettably, a sharp ear for dialogue and dialect, and a natural vocation for story-telling.

This diverse collection is a delightful and entertaining windfall from one of Ireland s most colourful writers. An essential complement to Behan s master works.