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At Swim-Two-Birds
- Narrated by: Aidan Kelly
- Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins
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At Swim-Two-Birds
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Summary
More preoccupied with drinking, sleeping, and writing, an unnamed student neglects his studies and invents three separate openings for a novel. The first introduces the Pooka MacPhellimey, "a member of the devil class", the second involves Mr. John Furriskey, a character belonging to another of the student's creations (writer Dermot Trellis), while the final opening features legendary Irish heroes Finn Mac Cool and Mad King Sweeny. Soon, Trellis' creations rebel against him, doing as they like while he sleeps, and the characters from each story begin wandering in and out of each other's tales.
Published in 1939, At Swim-Two-Birds is a madcap exploration of Irish literature and mythology and the unending possibilities of fiction.
Artwork © 2019 Naxos AudioBooks UK Ltd.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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What listeners say about At Swim-Two-Birds
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kevin McPhillips
- 09-05-22
Poetry & absurdity, great delivery
I read this book a couple of times as a young man. 30 years on, I eared it here, and I’ll do so again.
There are times I think O’Brien was using words for the sake of themselves, and I suppose he was. There is a poetry and rhythm throughout which, as a Dubliner, I appreciated even more by hearing it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 10-01-24
a masterful romp through characters and genres
I must admit, it's my favourite book. sheer fun , surprisingly good amd bad ( on purpose ) poetry, bizarrely divergent characters, and so many voices. the narrator does the brilliant job this book deserves. very evocative and just so uplifting.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Olga B
- 21-02-24
performance
I enjoyed listening to the book. The performance is brilliant. At the beginning I struggled to understand the story but in the end I got it.
I might read the book as well.
Thanks.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paul Mcelroy
- 06-03-20
I just wish I had read (listened to) this earlier
My Dad urged me, for years and years, to read At Swim-Two-Birds. I just never got round to it.
He passed away two months ago... I had to read it.
This is up there with the best I have read....genuinely laugh out loud funny in parts
I just wish I had read it before he passed...
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9 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Matt
- 17-05-23
All time great novel.
Amazing novel, Aidan Kelly is perfect as the narrator - one of the most playful and energetic books.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 21-02-20
still great
50 years since i first read this. Listening to it now, it's still great. Still don't fully understand it.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Bill Furrows
- 12-12-22
Sleep inducing
Beautifully read, but no idea what was going on. I persevered and stayed with it, until I couldn’t anymore. (Apologies to those who loved it!).
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