Key by Mirtn Cadhain

Key by Mirtn Cadhain

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Key by Mirtn Cadhain

In An Eochair (The Key), one of Máirtín Ó Cadhain's most Kafkaesque short stories (and one of his longest), J., a 'paper-keeper,' one of the more junior civil servant positions, accidentally locks himself in his office when the key breaks in the lock. The story -- a mixture of satire, farce, black comedy and, ultimately, tragedy -- relates the efforts of J. and various other characters, his wife, civil service colleagues and superiors and others, to extricate himself from his predicament. However, all efforts to free J. must be in accordance with civil service protocols, and no such protocol exists for J.'s unique dilemma.

"..one of the most important writers of the twentieth century." —BBC

"The Key possesses all the subversive linguistic energy of the finest absurdist comedy, and, true to that tradition, it is also very serious. It could be a political polemic. Instead it ridicules the petty mindlessness of bureaucracy and office politics everywhere. (...) The frenetic fluency of the satire is sustained throughout. It is a literary performance piece that would be exciting to stage." —Eileen Battersby, Irish Times
Máirtín Ó Cadhain was one of the most prominent Irish language writers of the twentieth century and played a key role in bringing literary modernism to contemporary Irish language literature. Máirtín Ó Cadhain was one of the most prominent Irish language writers of the twentieth century and played a key role in bringing literary modernism to contemporary Irish language literature. Louis de Paor is a well-known poet in the Irish language. Born in Cork, and former editor the Irish language journal Innti, he is now the Director of the Centre for Irish Studies at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Lochlainn O'tuairisg is chief editor with Cló Iar-Chonnacht publishers.
SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9781564784438
ISBN 10 1564784436
Title Key
Author Mirtn Cadhain
Series Irish Literature
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Paperback
Publisher Dalkey Archive Press
Year published 2015-07-02
Number of pages 200
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note Unavailable