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  • The Third Policeman

  • Written by: Flann O'Brien
  • Narrated by: Jim Norton
  • Length: 6 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (26 ratings)

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The Third Policeman

Written by: Flann O'Brien
Narrated by: Jim Norton
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Publisher's Summary

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 Library section along with the audio.

©1967 Flann O'Brien (P)2012 Naxos AudioBooks

What the critics say

"His writing is invariably compared to those other Irish greats, Joyce and Beckett, but for me he is infinitely more accessible and much funnier." (Sue Arnold, The Guardian, UK)
"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)

What listeners say about The Third Policeman

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Is it about a bicycle?

It is nearly impossible to say anything about Flann O’Brien’s novel THE THIRD POLICEMAN. The story itself is an impossibility. Its very telling is terrifying. It is an eternal paradox about murder, a bicycle, policemen, a physicist named de Selby, a horse, a women named Pegeen Meers, a black box fit to hold nothing other than Schrödinger’s cat, and a man named John Divney. Jim Norton’s performance is delightful. Listen to it at least three times.

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An underappreciated masterpiece

An underappreciated literary masterpiece and one of the greatest audio books of all time. Jim Norton does a magnificent job as the narrator.

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