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The Third Policeman

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About this listen

Flann O'Brien's most popular and surrealistic novel concerns an imaginary, hellish village police force and a local murder.

Weird, satirical, and very funny, its popularity has suddenly increased with the mention of the novel in the TV series Lost.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©1967 Flann O'Brien (P)2012 Naxos AudioBooks Classics Dark Humour Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Satire Small Town & Rural Funny Comedy Witty Cycling Mind-bending Thought-Provoking Scary

Editor reviews

Why we think it's Essential: Jim Norton turns this wild post-modern romp into an accessible absurdist story that sounds as though it has been narrated by a studio full of talent. This modern classic can often make little sense when read, but Norton never misses a beat. While the story ranges from life to afterlife and everywhere in between, Norton keeps us grounded, entertained, and totally engrossed. You might've missed it in lit class, but don't let it roll by now. — Chris Doheny

Critic reviews

"If ever a book was brought to life by a reading, it is this presentation of O'Brien's posthumously published classic. Norton individually crafts voices and personalities for each character in such a way that a listener might imagine an entire cast of voice talent working overtime....[He] ties the ribbon on a perfect presentation of this absurd and chilling masterpiece." ( Publishers Weekly)
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Many reviews have been written about this title elsewhere on the web, so there seems little point in going into granular detail of what it?s about here. Just visit them and I think you?ll get the general picture. As for my opinion of it ? to be honest I?m left in two minds. I started off loving it, then hated it and at the end couldn?t really decide whether I?d enjoyed it or not! Yes, without doubt it?s strange, immensely clever, original (almost a forerunner to Father Ted in some of the more comic elements - guessing a stranger?s name immediately springs to mind for those of you who are fans of the series) and contains some of the best writing I have ?listened to?. The narration is also first rate (yet another Father Ted connection here too).

However, it could just be me but parts of this simply bored the pants off of me. I normally get through a lengthy (12 hours) audio book in a week or two but this one took me over a month and its just under seven hours long! The reason - well there?s only so much otherworldly ?nonsense? you can listen to and not let your thoughts drift off. If you let that happen then you loose the plot of course (not that I?m sure that really matters at times in this case) and have to 'rewind' or take a break from it.

So ? should you get this? It?s difficult to say really. I think some will absolutely love it and others hate it. To be honest its complete rubbish but then again wonderful rubbish ? I?m not being very helpful here am I? Oh go on, if you want to try something different then give it a go and see how you feel at the end of it ? what?s a few quid eh? Now I know how it ends I may even have a re-listen to see how it all pieces together. How many audio books can you say that about? I think I must have liked it (probably)!

On a Different Planet . . .

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Firstly, I could listen to Jim Norton reading from the dictionary, he is always excellent.
As for the story itself - the first three chapters are excellent. Hooked me in straight away, really enjoyed that first 90 minutes or so. Then the story stop-start-stop-starts throughout, pretty much up to the penultimate chapter. There are so many footnotes that arrive during the story that are rather wordy, that when you come back to the story you could feel a little lost.
The final chapter was very good, but I feel that this book needs to be listened to a few times. I love absurdism/surrealism, and maybe this is one of those occasions I wish I had read the book before listening.

Great start to a strange tale…

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ut's such a 1930 - 1940s Irish settings. quite the journey . comical and complex at the same time.

uniquely irish

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This is a favourite book of mine, first enjoyed about sixty years ago when I was a student. Now it is given a gorgeous reading from one of the greatest actors around; Jim Norton. He lets the wonderful story speak for itself, and he submits to the author's creative brilliance without turning into caricature. A perfect combination of author and performer.

A masterpiece of crime detection. Or not.

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well I dont know what to think anymore. a most spendiferous thing, highly unusual and beguiling

fucking hell

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