James Tait Black Memorial Prizes
The Informer Pa (Harvest/Hbj Book)
Set amid political tension in Dublin, the novel follows a man destroyed by guilt after betraying a comrade. It portrays the dark underside of a city where revolution and ordinary life collide.
Work Information
Betrayal and guilt steadily drive the protagonist toward collapse in the darkness of the city.
As one of Liam O’Flaherty’s best-known novels, it sharply depicts the violence, distrust, and personal fragility of the Irish independence era.
Book Information
- Publisher
- Mariner
- Published
- 1980-07-17
- Pages
- 192 pages
- Language
- 英語
- Size
- 13.34 x 1.22 x 20.32 cm
- ISBN-13
- 9780156443562
- ISBN-10
- 0156443562
- Price
- 2781 JPY
- Category
- 洋書/Mystery & Thrillers/Thrillers/Psychological & Suspense
A tale of temptation, betrayal, and reprisal, this powerful novel is set in the aftermath of the Irish Civil War. It tells of Gypo Nolan, who informs on a wanted comrade. The source of the Academy Award-winning film directed by John Ford. Preface by Denis Donoghue.
Liam O'Flaherty (1896-1984) was born in the Aran Islands of Ireland. He performed a number of odd jobs before writing his first novel in1923. Awarded the Irish Academy of Letters Award for Literature, O'Flaherty wrote fourteen novels, a number of short stories, and countless other works. The Informer was first published in 1925.
Reviews
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Buch wie beschrieben
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Excellent service and excellent product. I disapprove of requiring so many words to rate a product. I have better thing to do than write these notes.
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I came to this book for the second time having read it my teens , recommended by my father. I'm now in my mid 70's and I appreciate it even more than I did then. My father was born in Kent as I was but his mother was Irish. The story is the cruel one of a primitive man, the peasant who is ensnared by a political idea, in this case revolutionary communism but it is just as likely he would be be Irish Nationalist; most O'Flaherty's books are. Insurrection is based on the 1916 Rising. The poverty and sudden sordid death casts a spell over the parties. Our 'Hero' informs on his best friend for the reward of £20 and it's only too clear that he didn't comprehend the consequences. He isn't a true Revolutionary because he doesn't understand it. He is entranced by the chance to use his enormous strength and his fascination with his immediate commanding officer Dan Gallagher. It ends badly for the Informer who has to be executed. It's strange it isn't a book about Irish Nationalism - maybe 1925 when he wrote it there's was danger in taking that line? The Civil War was underway. Like other political novels of the period it has an undercurrent of Fascism in its starkly military tale. My father's other hero of his youth was Hyndman and the Syndicalists who believed mass strikes and a Revolution were necessary, again an edge of Fascism. Later my father joined the British Union of Fascists in 1932 and perhaps there was no big change in his outlook. This is an awesome heart rending account of a peasant mind grappling with the modern world and is beautifully written especially the dialogue which so successfully captures the authentic Irish tongue.
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wow this is an amazing book very dark and sad,it made me cry but had to finish it a real piece of littérateur but not an easy ride. Buy it and brace yourself
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Too often rats live long and prosper, this novel is about what ought to be the fate of all informants. In a few words, if one has viewed John Ford's Informer, be ready for a deeper,darker ride. After this try reading "Shake hands with the Devil" ?