Skip to content

Third Policeman
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Third Policeman Paperback - 2002

by Flann O'Brien; Introduction by Denis Donoghue


From the publisher

The Third Policeman is Flann O'Brien's brilliantly dark comic novel about the nature of time, death, and existence. Told by a narrator who has committed a botched robbery and brutal murder, the novel follows him and his adventures in a two-dimensional police station where, through the theories of the scientist/philosopher de Selby, he is introduced to "Atomic Theory" and its relation to bicycles, the existence of eternity (which turns out to be just down the road), and de Selby's view that the earth is not round but "sausage-shaped." With the help of his newly found soul named "Joe, " he grapples with the riddles and contradictions that three eccentric policeman present to him.

The last of O'Brien's novels to be published, The Third Policeman joins O'Brien's other fiction (At Swim-Two-Birds, The Poor Mouth, The Hard Life, The Best of Myles, and The Dalkey Archive) to ensure his place, along with James Joyce and Samuel Beckett, as one of Ireland's great comic geniuses.

From the rear cover

The Third Policeman is Flann O'Brien's comic novel about the nature of time, death, and existence. Told by a narrator who has committed a botched robbery and brutal murder, the novel follows him and his adventures in a two-dimensional police station where, through the theories of the scientist/philosopher de Selby, he is introduced to "Atomic Theory" and its relation to bicycles, the existence of eternity (which turns out to be just down the road), and de Selby's view that the earth is not round but "sausage-shaped." With the help of his newly found soul named "Joe, " he grapples with the riddles and contradictions that three eccentric policeman present to him.

Details

  • Title Third Policeman
  • Author Flann O'Brien; Introduction by Denis Donoghue
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition Second printing
  • Pages 200
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Dalkey Archive Press, Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.A.
  • Date March 1, 2002
  • ISBN 9781564782144 / 156478214X
  • Weight 0.65 lbs (0.29 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.7 in (21.59 x 13.72 x 1.78 cm)
  • Themes
    • Cultural Region: Ireland
    • Ethnic Orientation: Irish
  • Library of Congress subjects Murder
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 98-52437
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

Media reviews

Citations

  • Entertainment Weekly, 10/14/2005, Page 158
  • New Yorker (The), 02/11/2008, Page 149
Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

The Third Policeman (John F. Byrne Irish Literature Series)

The Third Policeman (John F. Byrne Irish Literature Series)

by Donoghue, Denis

  • Used
  • very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9781564782144
ISBN 10
156478214X
Quantity Available
2
Seller
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£8.68
£8.57 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Paperback. Very Good.
Item Price
£8.68
£8.57 shipping to USA
The Third Policeman (John F. Byrne Irish Literature Series)

The Third Policeman (John F. Byrne Irish Literature Series)

by Donoghue, Denis

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9781564782144
ISBN 10
156478214X
Quantity Available
1
Seller
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£8.68
£8.57 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Paperback. Good.
Item Price
£8.68
£8.57 shipping to USA
The Third Policeman
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Third Policeman

by O'Brien, Flann

  • New
  • Paperback
Condition
New
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9781564782144
ISBN 10
156478214x
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£11.31
£4.88 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Dalkey, 2006. 5th printing, unread condition.. Trade Paperback. New.
Item Price
£11.31
£4.88 shipping to USA
The Third Policeman
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Third Policeman

by O'Brien, Flann

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Used: Good
Edition
Later printing
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9781564782144
ISBN 10
156478214X
Quantity Available
1
Seller
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£13.83
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Dalkey Archive Press, 2002-03-01. Later printing. paperback. Used: Good.
Item Price
£13.83
FREE shipping to USA
Third Policeman
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Third Policeman

by O'Brien, Flann

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9781564782144
ISBN 10
156478214x
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£13.97
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Deep Vellum Publishing. Used - Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
£13.97
FREE shipping to USA
The Third Policeman
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Third Policeman

by O'Brien, Flann

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9781564782144
ISBN 10
156478214X
Quantity Available
1
Seller
TAMPA, Florida, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£15.91
£2.44 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Used - Good. The Third Policeman is Flann O'Brien's brilliantly dark comic novel about the nature of time, death, and existence.
Told by a narrator who has committed a botched robbery and brutal murder, the novel follows him and his adventures in a two-dimensional police station where, through the theories of the scientist/philosopher de Selby, he is introduced to "Atomic Theory" and its relation to bicycles, the existence of eternity (which turns out to be just down the road), and de Selby's view that the earth is not round but "sausage-shaped." With the help of his newly found soul named "Joe, " he grapples with the riddles and contradictions that three eccentric policeman present to him.
The last of O’Brien’s novels to be published, The Third Policeman joins O’Brien’s other fiction (At Swim-Two-Birds, The Poor Mouth, The Hard Life, and The Dalkey Archive) to ensure his place, along with James Joyce and Samuel Beckett, as one of Ireland’s great comic geniuses."
Item Price
£15.91
£2.44 shipping to USA
The Third Policeman
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Third Policeman

by O'Brien, Flann

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9781564782144
ISBN 10
156478214X
Quantity Available
1
Seller
TAMPA, Florida, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£26.82
£2.44 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Used - Good. The Third Policeman is Flann O'Brien's brilliantly dark comic novel about the nature of time, death, and existence.
Told by a narrator who has committed a botched robbery and brutal murder, the novel follows him and his adventures in a two-dimensional police station where, through the theories of the scientist/philosopher de Selby, he is introduced to "Atomic Theory" and its relation to bicycles, the existence of eternity (which turns out to be just down the road), and de Selby's view that the earth is not round but "sausage-shaped." With the help of his newly found soul named "Joe, " he grapples with the riddles and contradictions that three eccentric policeman present to him.
The last of O’Brien’s novels to be published, The Third Policeman joins O’Brien’s other fiction (At Swim-Two-Birds, The Poor Mouth, The Hard Life, and The Dalkey Archive) to ensure his place, along with James Joyce and Samuel Beckett, as one of Ireland’s great comic geniuses."
Item Price
£26.82
£2.44 shipping to USA
The Third Policeman
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Third Policeman

by O'Brien, Flann

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9781564782144
ISBN 10
156478214X
Quantity Available
1
Seller
TAMPA, Florida, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£27.01
£2.44 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Used - Good. The Third Policeman is Flann O'Brien's brilliantly dark comic novel about the nature of time, death, and existence.
Told by a narrator who has committed a botched robbery and brutal murder, the novel follows him and his adventures in a two-dimensional police station where, through the theories of the scientist/philosopher de Selby, he is introduced to "Atomic Theory" and its relation to bicycles, the existence of eternity (which turns out to be just down the road), and de Selby's view that the earth is not round but "sausage-shaped." With the help of his newly found soul named "Joe, " he grapples with the riddles and contradictions that three eccentric policeman present to him.
The last of O’Brien’s novels to be published, The Third Policeman joins O’Brien’s other fiction (At Swim-Two-Birds, The Poor Mouth, The Hard Life, and The Dalkey Archive) to ensure his place, along with James Joyce and Samuel Beckett, as one of Ireland’s great comic geniuses."
Item Price
£27.01
£2.44 shipping to USA
The Third Policeman
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Third Policeman

by O'Brien, Flann

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Used:Good
Edition
Later printing
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9781564782144
ISBN 10
156478214X
Quantity Available
1
Seller
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£52.99
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Dalkey Archive Press, 2002-03-01. Later printing. paperback. Used:Good.
Item Price
£52.99
FREE shipping to USA
The Third Policeman (John F. Byrne Irish Literature Series)

The Third Policeman (John F. Byrne Irish Literature Series)

by Flann O'Brien

  • New
  • Paperback
Condition
New
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9781564782144
ISBN 10
156478214X
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£72.04
£10.00 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Dalkey Archive Pr, 1999. Paperback. New. second printing edition. 200 pages. 8.75x5.75x0.75 inches.
Item Price
£72.04
£10.00 shipping to USA