Flann O'Brien books in order
Irish writer
- Lived
- 1911–1966
- Country
- Ireland
- Books
- 11
- Also writes as
- Brother Barnabas, George Knowall, Myles na gCopaleen, Myles na Gopaleen
Flann O'Brien published 9 novels, 1 novella and 1 short story collection, beginning with At Swim-Two-Birds (1939). The best-known is The Third Policeman (1967).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Flann O'Brien
Start here
The Third Policeman
Flann O'Brien's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
At Swim-Two-Birds (1939)
An Béal Bocht (1941)
The Hard Life (1961)
The Dalkey Archive (1964)
The Third Policeman (1967)
The Best of Myles (1968)
BEST of MYLES NA GOPALEEN (1977)
Myles Before Myles (1988)
Collected Plays and Teleplays (2013)
Novellas in order
Poor Mouth (1974)
Short story collections in order
Stories and Plays (1973)
About Flann O'Brien
Brian O'Nolan, whose pen names included Flann O'Brien, was an Irish Civil Service official, novelist, playwright and satirist, who is now considered a major figure in twentieth-century Irish literature. Born in Strabane, County Tyrone, he is regarded as a key figure in modernist and postmodern literature. His four English-language novels, At Swim-Two-Birds (1939), The Hard Life (1961), The Dalkey Archive (1964) and The Third Policeman (1967), were published under the pen name Flann O'Brien. His many satirical columns in The Irish Times and an Irish-language novel, An Béal Bocht (1941), were written under the name Myles na gCopaleen.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Flann O'Brien FAQ
- How many books has Flann O'Brien written?
- Flann O'Brien published 9 novels, 1 novella and 1 short story collection that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Flann O'Brien's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Third Policeman.
- What is Flann O'Brien's last book?
- The Best of Myles (1968).
- What is Flann O'Brien's most famous book?
- The Third Policeman (1967) is Flann O'Brien's most widely read book.
- Does Flann O'Brien write under a pen name?
- Yes: Flann O'Brien has also published as Brother Barnabas, George Knowall, Myles na gCopaleen and Myles na Gopaleen.
Authors like Flann O'Brien
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.