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'A Marvellous collection of Behan's work which lets us see again that we had a genius among us.' -- The Sunday Independent 'A superb introduction by Peter Fallon!Behan (who) had an incredible literary gift demonstrated impeccably in After the Wake. Contains some previously unpublished material and boasts a cavalcade of 21 pieces, some fictional, some autobiographical, chartin -- UK Blog, Book Me
Product Description
Brendan Behan’s genius was to strike a chord between critic and common man. When he died, at the age of 41, he was arguably the most celebrated Irish writer of the twentieth century.
After the Wake is a collection of seven prose works and a series of articles. It includes all that exists of an unfinished novel, ‘The Caracombs’, and pieces together items whose comic and fanciful accounts evoke Flann O’Brien. Also featured are works of acknowledged excellence, ‘The Confirmation Suit’ and ‘A Woman of No Standing’. This writing bears all the hallmarks of the author’s talent – an ability to bring characters to life quickly and unforgettably, a sharp ear for dialogue and dialect, and a natural vocation for story-telling.
This diverse collection is a delightful and entertaining windfall from one of Ireland's most colourful writers. An essential complement to Behan's master works.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
From the song's of Shane McGowan to the wall's of any Irish theme pub across the world, Behan is quite literally plastered into the Celtic myth, as a hell raising boozer who drank himself to death at the age of 41. Just as Dylan Thomas's litarary acheivements have been marred by the hell raising reputation he left behind him, Behan's work has to a large extent been summed up by 'quotes' and anecdotes of a baroomesque kind. In 'After the Wake', edited by Peter Fallon it's a rare treat to find some of Behan's fiction gathered together, short stories of an autobiographical nature, charting the politics and ritual of Irish life in the 30's and 40's. Behan's sharp wit, ear for dialogue and skill at putting down vernacular speech, as well as his masterey at blancing dramatic tension, all culminate in some short sharp masterpeices. In 'The Last of Mrs Murphy' we follow Behan on his fifth birthday being taken to 'Jimmy the Sports' for his first drink by an elderly neighbour. The way we're forced to wait in line at the snuff shop with Behan as the women in the queue natter, overhearing their dialogue, is Behan subtle and brash at his best. Or when the teenage Behan in "I Become a Borstal Boy', instigates a tribute to fellow terrorist inmates who have just been 'executed' in a neighbouring jail, only escaping the cosh because he's up in the magistrates court that day. Behan was all that Yeats or Joyce were not. While Yeats conjured visions of Cuchalainn and Joyce abhorred the Irish heroics, Behan lived it and wrote it with a skill averev born from experience.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Its many years since I read any of Brendan Behan's work, to me the late Brendan had complete mastery of the English language, Brendans work is a typical example of the rich - descriptive and humorous Irish language being transposed, through the medium of English. After the Wake is just one example, which I throughly enjoyed and only wished there was much more of it.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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3 reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Typical understated brilliance from Behan.
9 May 2000
After The Wake is absolutely one of my favorite books; the stories are by turns poignant, hilarious, sad and knowing. This truly is Behan at his best, writing with the rhythmic language of the working class and with insight into human character few authors can equal. In addition, Behan's knack for setting a scene or introducting a character in very few words is in full flourish; I truly felt as if I KNEW the characters (their facial expressions, histories, bad luck - all of it) in a few short sentences. In short, After The Wake is excellent on all counts and is recommended not only as a stellar work of fiction, but also as a perfect introduction to the work of Brendan Behan.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Well Worth Seeking Out A Copy
18 July 2008
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These short sketches by Brendan Behan are indicative of his immense talent as an observer of character and culture. A rich variety of stories and story fragments, After The Wake, is immersed in Irish culture as lived by ordinary working class Dubliners. Behan writes with understanding and his prose is almost musical in it's tempo and pace. This collection is an important contribution to modern Irish literature and a fine way to be introduced to Brendan Behan for the uninitiated.
a scintillating set of Dublin vignettes
25 April 1998
Behan's collection of shorts, including the title story, evokes the richness of Irish language and humour that made Wilde, Shaw, and Behan such legends, without resorting to the didacticism of Swift and Beckett. By turns heartbreaking, hilarious, and downright scandalous, Behan's vigniettes never fail to give what Joyce's Dubliners only suggested: the warm-blooded humanity of Ireland, including its heartbreak and petty follies.
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